UAE YEARBOOK 2009
THE 2008 YEARBOOK, A VALUABLE INFORMATION source on
developments that occurred in the United Arab
Emirates over the past 12 months, will appeal to all
who have an interest in the country. The UAE has
earned a worldwide reputation for excellence in
several important fields, including industry and
finance, aviation, tourism, culture, exhibitions and
events, real estate, sports, education, health care, and
travel. The facts behind these impressive success
stories are to be found between the covers of this
book.
The Yearbook is designed for use in conjunction
with the internet and the links cited throughout the
book will take the reader to up-to-date information on
a wide range of topics. The book itself is available in
printed format, on DVD-rom and on the internet as
PDF files downloadable from www.uaeinteract.com.
Daily news reports on the UAE, a comprehensive
searchable news database, and further information on
the country are also available on www.uaeinteract.com
The UAE Yearbook is published with the assistance
and support of the National Media Council.
For further information please contact:
National Media Council,
PO Box 3790,
Abu Dhabi,
United Arab Emirates.
Tel: 00971 2 4452 922
Fax: 00971 2 4450 458
Email: admin@extinfo.gov.ae or info@extinfo.gov.ae
ISBN 978-1-905486-33-5
9 781905 486335
COVER STORY
THE UAE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A LAND WHERE culture has taken a
prime role in society. Emiratis respect poets, writers
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 2009
• HISTORY UNITED ARAB EMIRATES and artists as vital contributors to a healthy
community and an aesthetic sensitivity has guided
• GOVERNMENT development and continues to influence architecture.
• ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 2009 It is hardly surprising, therefore, that when Abu Dhabi,
the capital city of the UAE, considered how it could
best celebrate its growth and contribute towards an
• INFRASTRUCTURE improved standard of living for both its residents and
• SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
those who visit the country, it chose culture as its core
theme, expressing this in a unique way that would also
• MEDIA & CULTURE
build a bridge between West and East, a way that
would ensure that Emiratis are exposed to some of the
• ENVIRONMENT world's finest creative talents within their own country,
and a way in which global attention would be drawn
• SPORTS to the UAE's own cultural strengths and interests.
This is the background to the development of the
• EXHIBITIONS Cultural District of Saadiyat Island where Abu Dhabi is
now developing the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, the
Louvre Abu Dhabi and a number of other fine centres
of artistic excellence. When we considered the options
for illustrating the cover of the 2008 UAE Yearbook it
seemed to us that no other decision made over the
past 12 months is of greater significance in raising the
global profile of the UAE. Our cover, therefore, depicts
Frank Gehry's innovative concept for the Guggenheim
Abu Dhabi.
Published by Trident Press Ltd.
175 Piccadilly, Mayfair, London WIJ 9TB, UK
Tel: 0044 2074918770
E-mail: admin@tridentpress.com
Website: www.tridentpress.com
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES YEARBOOK

2009
This project is undertaken with support and assistance from the National Media Council. It is a
multimedia publishing programme involving publication of the UAE Yearbook in English, French and
Arabic printed and electronic editions; management of UAEINTERACT (www.uaeinteract.com), which
contains news updates linked to pages of the Yearbook; publication of UAE at a Glance, which
summarises main data on the UAE; and production of a DVD containing films and e-books on the UAE.
The publishers wish to acknowledge and thank the National Media Council for their valuable
encouragement and support for this multifaceted project.

Editor: Paula Vine

Associate Editors: Ibrahim Al Abed, Peter Hellyer, Peter Vine

Text copyright ©2009: Trident Press Ltd. and The National Media Council
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form without the
written permission of both copyright holders. Applications should be addressed to the publisher.

Photographs ©: Emirates News Agency (WAM), Trident Press Ltd, The National, Gulf News, Getty
Images, Hanne & Jens Eriksen, Photolibrary, Brian McMorrow, Fotosearch, Grapheast, Abu Dhabi Urban
Planning Council, BP Photographic Archives, Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, Peter Vine

English edition design and typesetting: Jane Stark and James Kelly, Trident Press

Yearbook information is, by definition, subject to change. The current volume is based on available
information at the time of printing. Whilst every care has been taken to achieve accuracy, the publishers
cannot accept any liability for consequences arising from the use of information contained in this book.
Statistics are based on available sources and are not necessarily official or endorsed by the UAE
Government.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data:

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available
from the British Library.

ISBN 978-1-905486-45-8 (hardback) ISBN: 978-1-905486-46-5 (paperback)

Published by Trident Press Ltd For further information please contact:

175 Piccadilly, Mayfair, London WIJ 9TB National Media Council,
Tel: 020 7491 8770; Fax: 020 7491 8664 Department of External Information,
E-mail: admin@tridentpress.com PO Box 3790,
Website: www.tridentpress.com Abu Dhabi,
United Arab Emirates.
Tel: 00971 2 4452 922
Fax: 00971 2 4450 458
Email: admin@extinfo.gov.ae or info@extinfo.gov.ae
CONTENTS

FOREWORD 5

HISTORY 7

GOVERNMENT 19

E CO N O M I C D E V E LO P M E N T 55

INFRASTRUCTURE 143

S O C I A L D E V E LO P M E N T 203

M E D I A & C U LT U R E 259

ENVIRONMENT & WILDLIFE 291

SPORTS & LEISURE 301

EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS 321

 5

FOREWORD
THE BUSINESS OF LOOKING-BACK IN TIME IS A PRECISE SCIENCE. Unfortunately none of
us knows what will happen tomorrow but we do know what happened
yesterday, last week, last month and last year. The recording of recent
events, in the form of the United Arab Emirates Yearbook, and indeed of
the many official reports issued by various government and private
organisations on which much of the Yearbook data is based, is a valuable
tool defining the latest developments in the country. The 2009 UAE Yearbook
reports on a period of continued rapid development in the UAE.
As I turn these pages, I also have on my desk the UAE Yearbook for 1999.
What great progress was revealed in that edition and yet what a distance we
have travelled in the short period of one decade since then!
Among the many aspects of growth and development that each Yearbook
portrays there are several consistent threads that do not change. Among
these central tenets of what ‘makes the Emirates tick’ is a spirit of ‘openness’
that the UAE Government remains very committed towards and which
influences almost all areas of its activities and decision making. This
embraces many different facets of our national (and individual) psyche,
including a willingness to share our views and ideas and to listen to, and
respect those of others; a proud acknowledgement of our past and our rich
heritage whilst also opening our minds to new developments, new ideas
and new technologies; and, perhaps most importantly, a recognition that
there are many different ways to consider a particular issue or challenge.
We do not claim to have all the answers and do not hold up our record as
one that is without flaws. But our openness helps us to learn from the past
and to do better in future.
2008 brought many new challenges and significant developments in
virtually all fields. The UAE Government Strategy, launched in 2007 with
a focus on adopting international best practices in the area of public
administration, saw further progress with one of the most important aspects
being the enhancement of collaboration between the federal authorities
and those in each emirate.
I take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in the United Arab
Emirates and hope that you will find this publication assists you in your
quest for knowledge and information on our fascinating country.

Saqr Ghobash
Chairman, National Media Council
 HISTORY

‘He who does not know his

past cannot make the best of
his present and future, for it is
from the past that we learn.’
The arrival of envoys from the
Prophet Mohammed in 630
AD heralded the conversion of
the region to Islam.
 9

HISTORY
THE UAE HAS A LONG HISTORY, RECENT FINDS in the Hajar Mountains and
in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi having pushed the earliest
evidence of man in the Emirates back by tens of thousands, perhaps
hundreds of thousands, of years. Prior to this, the earliest known
human occupation for which there is significant evidence dated
from the Neolithic period, 5500 BC or 7500 years ago, when the
climate was wetter and food resources abundant. Even at this early
stage, there is proof of interaction with the outside world, especially
with civilisations to the north. These contacts persisted and became
wide-ranging, probably motivated by trade in copper from the Hajar
Mountains, commencing around 3000 BC as the climate became
more arid and fortified oasis communities focused on agriculture.
Foreign trade, the recurring motif in the history of this strategic
region, seems to have flourished also in later periods, facilitated by
domestication of the camel at the end of the second millennium
BC. At the same time, the discovery of new irrigation techniques (falaj A third millennium bronze
pedestal chalice from Wadi
irrigation) made possible the extensive watering of agricultural areas
‘Asimah. Similar to goblets
that resulted in an explosion of settlement in the region. from Baluchistan, it is the only
By the first century AD overland caravan traffic between Syria and one of its type found so far in
cities in southern Iraq, followed by seaborne travel to the important south-eastern Arabia.

port of Omana (perhaps present-day Umm al-Qaiwain) and thence

to India was an alternative to the Red Sea route used by the Romans.
Pearls had been exploited in the area for millennia but at this time
the trade reached new heights. Seafaring was also a mainstay and
major fairs were held at Dibba, bringing merchants from as far
afield as China.
The arrival of envoys from the Prophet Mohammed in 630 AD
heralded the conversion of the region to Islam with Dibba again
featuring, this time as a battleground in the wake of the Prophet’s
death. By 637 AD Islamic armies were using Julfar (Ra’s al-Khaimah)
as a staging post for the conquest of Iran. Over many centuries,
Julfar became a wealthy port and pearling centre from which great
wooden dhows ranged far and wide across the Indian Ocean.

@ www.uaeinteract.com/uaehistory
10
IMPORTANT DATES

c.5500 BC Evidence of extensive human occupation in UAE.

5500–3000 BC Occupation by skilled groups of herders using finely made stone
tools (so-called ‘Arabian bifacial tradition’).
3000–2500 BC Hafit period – era of earliest collective burials first noted on the
lower slopes of Jebel Hafit in the interior of Abu Dhabi.
2500–2000 BC Umm al-Nar period – era of first oasis towns (e.g. at Hili, Tell
Abraq, Bidiya, Kalba) dominated by large, circular fortresses; burial of
the dead in round communal tombs; wide-ranging trade contact with Mesopotamia,
Iran, Indus Valley, Baluchistan, Bactria (Afghanistan); first intensive use of copper
resources of Hajar Mountains; area referred to as Magan in Mesopotamian sources.
2000–l300 BC Wadi Suq period and Late Bronze Age – an era which is characterised by fewer towns;
change in burial customs to long, generally narrow collective tombs; close ties to
Dilmun (Bahrain).
1300–300 BC Iron Age – introduction of new irrigation technology in
the form of falaj (pl. aflaj), subterranean galleries which
led water from mountain aquifers to lower-lying oases and
gardens; explosion of settlement; first use of iron; first
writing, using South Arabian alphabet; contacts with Assyrian
and Persian empires.
300 BC–0 Mleiha period (or Late Pre-Islamic A–B) – flourishing town at Mleiha; beginnings of
local coinage; far-flung imports from Greece (black-glazed pottery), South Arabia
(alabaster unguent jars); first use of the horse.
0–250 AD Ed-Dur period (or late Pre-Islamic C–D) – flourishing towns at ed-Dur and Mleiha;
extensive trade network along the Gulf linking up the Mediterranean, Syria and
Mesopotamia with India; imports include Roman glass, coinage, brass; massive
production of coinage by a ruler called Abi’el; first use of Aramaic in inscriptions from
ed-Dur and Mleiha.
240 AD Rise of the Sasanian dynasty in south-western Iran, conquest of most of eastern
Arabia.
6th/7th cent. AD Introduction of Christianity via contacts with south-western Iran and southern
Mesopotamia; establishment of monastery on Sir Bani Yas by Nestorian Christian
community; Sasanian garrisons in inner Oman and evidence for contact in the UAE
shown by coins and ceramics from Kush (Ra’s al-Khaimah), Umm al-Qaiwain and
Fujairah.
630 AD Arrival of envoys from the Prophet Muhammad;
conversion of the people to Islam.
632 AD Death of the Prophet Muhammad; outbreak of the ridda
movement, a widespread rebellion against the teachings
of Islam; dispatch of Hudhayfah b. Mihsan by the Caliph
Abu Bakr to quell rebellion of Laqit b. Malik Dhu at-Tag at
Dibba; major battle at Dibba, collapse of the rebels.
 HISTORY 11

Julfar used as staging post for Islamic invasion of Iran. 637 AD

Julfar used as staging post for Abbasid invasion of Oman. 892 AD
Buyids (Buwayhids) conquer south-eastern Arabia. 963 AD
Geographer Yaqut mentions Julfar as a fertile town. c. 1220
Close commercial contact between Northern Emirates and kingdom of Hormuz, 14th–15th cent.
based on Jarun island in the Straits of Hormuz.
Portuguese circumnavigation of Cape of Good Hope by Vasco da Gama using Arab 1498
navigational information.
Portuguese–Ottoman rivalry in the Gulf. 16th cent.
Venetian traveller Gasparo Balbi’s description of coast of UAE from Qatar to Ra’s 1580
al-Khaimah; mention of Portuguese fortress at Kalba; first mention of Bani Yas in
Abu Dhabi.
Description of the East Coast of the UAE by a Dutch mariner sailing in the Meerkat. 1666
Growth of English trade in the Gulf; increasing Anglo–Dutch rivalry. 1720s
Sharjah and most of Musandam and the UAE East Coast, all the way to Khor Fakkan, 1764
under control of Qawasim according to Carsten Niebuhr, German surveyor
working with the King of Denmark’s scientific expedition.
Repeated English East India Company attacks on Qawasim navy. 1800–1819
General Treaty of Peace between British Government and sheikhs of Ra’s al-Khaimah, 1820
Umm al-Qaiwain, Ajman, Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Survey of the Gulf resulting in the publication of the first accurate charts and maps 1820–1864
of the area.
Collapse of the natural pearl market; first agreements signed by rulers of Dubai, 1930s
Sharjah and Abu Dhabi for oil exploration.
Oil exploration agreements finalised in Ra’s al-Khaimah, Umm al-Qaiwain and Ajman. 1945–1951
First export of oil from Abu Dhabi. 1962
British Government announced its intention to withdraw from 1968
the Gulf region; discussions begin on formation of a federation
of the emirates.
First export of oil from Dubai. 1969
Agreement reached amongst rulers of the emirates to form 10 July 1971
a union.
Formation of the State of the United Arab Emirates. 2 Dec 1971
Sheikh Zayed, 1st President of the UAE, died. 2 Nov 2004
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan elected as new President of 3 Nov 2004
the UAE.
12 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

The Portuguese arrival in the Gulf in the sixteenth century had

bloody consequences for the Arab residents of Julfar and east coast
ports like Dibba, Bidiya, Khor Fakkan and Kalba. However, while
European powers competed for regional supremacy, a local power, the
Qawasim, was gathering strength. At the beginning of the nineteenth
century the Qawasim had built up a fleet of over 60 large vessels
and could put nearly 20,000 sailors to sea, eventually provoking a
British offensive to control the maritime trade routes between the
Gulf and India.
Inland, the arc of villages at Liwa were the focus of economic and
social activity for the Bani Yas from before the sixteenth century. But
by the early 1790s the town of Abu Dhabi had become such an
important pearling centre that the political leader of all the Bani Yas
groups, the sheikh of the Al Bu Falah (Al Nahyan family) moved
there from the Liwa. Early in the nineteenth century, members of
the Al Bu Falasah, a branch of the Bani Yas, settled by the Creek in
Dubai and established Maktoum rule in that emirate.
Following the defeat of the Qawasim in 1820, the British signed a
series of agreements with the sheikhs of the individual emirates
Foreign trade,
that, later augmented with treaties on preserving a maritime truce,
hospitality, resulted in the area becoming known as ‘The Trucial States’.
exploitation of natural The pearling industry thrived in the relative calm at sea during the
resources, an nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, providing both income
appreciation of nature and employment to the people of the Arabian Gulf coast. Many of
and the importance of the inhabitants were semi-nomadic, pearling in the summer months
cultural heritage are all and tending to their date gardens in the winter. However, their
recurring motifs in the meagre economic resources were soon to be dealt a heavy blow. The
history of the UAE and First World War impacted severely on the pearl fishery, but it was
continue to be vital the economic depression of the late 1920s and early 1930s, coupled
with the Japanese invention of the cultured pearl, that damaged it
building blocks of
irreparably. The industry eventually faded away shortly after the
twenty-first century
Second World War, when the newly independent Government of
development.
India imposed heavy taxation on pearls imported from the Gulf.
This was catastrophic for the area. Despite their adaptability and
resourcefulness, the population faced considerable hardship with
little opportunity for education and no roads or hospitals.
Fortunately oil was on the horizon. At the beginning of the 1930s,
the first oil company teams carried out preliminary surveys and the
first cargo of crude was exported from Abu Dhabi in 1962. With
 HISTORY 13

revenues growing as oil production increased, Ruler of Abu Dhabi, The first cargo of
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, undertook a massive construction crude oil was exported
programme, building schools, housing, hospitals and roads. When from Abu Dhabi in
Dubai’s oil exports commenced in 1969, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed 1962 and the United
Al Maktoum, de facto Ruler of Dubai since 1939, was also able to Arab Emirates was
use oil revenues to improve the quality of life of his people.
formally established
FEDERATION as a federation on
2 December 1971.
At the beginning of 1968, when the British announced their intention
of withdrawing from the Arabian Gulf by the end of 1971, Sheikh
Zayed acted rapidly to initiate moves towards establishing closer ties
between the emirates. Along with Sheikh Rashid, who was to become
Vice President and, later, Prime Minister of the newly formed state,
Sheikh Zayed took the lead in calling for a federation that would
include not only the seven emirates that together made up the Trucial
States, but also Qatar and Bahrain. Following a period of negotiation,
however, agreement was reached between the rulers of six of the

@ www.uaeinteract.com/uaehistory
14 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan
Al Nahyan, the late President
of the United Arab Emirates.
emirates (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Fujairah, Umm al-Qaiwain and
Ajman) and the federation to be known as the United Arab Emirates
(UAE) was formally established on 2 December 1971 with Sheikh
Zayed as its President. The seventh emirate, Ra’s al-Khaimah,
formally acceded to the new federation on 10 February 1972.
A VISIONARY LEADER
The prosperity, harmony and modern development that today
characterises the UAE is due to a very great extent to the visionary
role played by Sheikh Zayed, both prior to the formation of the
federation and in the nearly 33 years that followed until his death in
November 2004.
Born around 1918 in Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed was the youngest
of the four sons of Sheikh Sultan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi from 1922 to
1926. He was named after his grandfather, Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa.
As Sheikh Zayed grew to manhood, he travelled widely throughout
the country, gaining a deep understanding of the land and of its
people. In the early 1930s, when oil company teams arrived to
undertake geological surveys, he obtained his first exposure to the
industry that was to make possible the development of today.
In 1946, he was chosen as Ruler’s Representative in Abu Dhabi’s
Eastern Region, centred on Al Ain, 160 kilometres east of the island
of Abu Dhabi.
He brought to his new task a firm belief in the values of consultation
and consensus. Foreign visitors, such as the British explorer Sir
Wilfred Thesiger, noted with approbation that his judgements ‘were
distinguished by their acute insights, wisdom and fairness’.
Sheikh Zayed swiftly established himself as someone who had a
clear vision of what he wished to achieve for the people and as
someone who led by example. A key task in the early years in Al Ain
was that of stimulating the local economy, which was largely based
on agriculture. Keen to ensure that the scarce water resources were
fairly shared, he surrendered the rights of his own family as an
example to others.
Sheikh Zayed also commenced the laying out of a visionary city
plan, and ordered the planting of trees that, now mature, have made
Al Ain one of the greenest cities in Arabia.
Despite the paucity of government revenues, Sheikh Zayed
succeeded in bringing progress to Al Ain, personally funding the
first modern school in the emirate and coaxing others to contribute Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al
towards small-scale development programmes. The beginning of oil Nahyan and Sheikh Rashid
bin Saeed Al Maktoum
exports provided the means to fund his dreams. touring the country in the
On 6 August 1966, Sheikh Zayed succeeded his elder brother as early days of the federation.
Ruler of Abu Dhabi. He promptly increased contributions to the
Trucial States Development Fund, and, in February 1968, when the
British announced their intention of withdrawing from the Gulf by the
end of 1971, he initiated moves to strengthen ties with the other
emirates, these leading to the establishment of the UAE. Sheikh Zayed
was elected by his fellow rulers as the first President, a post to which
he was successively re-elected at five-year intervals.
The new state emerged at a time of political turmoil in the region.
A couple of days earlier, Iran had seized the islands of Greater and
Lesser Tunb, part of Ra’s al-Khaimah, and had landed troops on
Abu Musa, part of Sharjah (see section on Foreign Policy).

@ www.uaeinteract.com/zayed
16 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

An aerial view of Abu Dhabi
in the 1960s.
Foreign observers predicted that the UAE would survive only with
difficulty, pointing to disputes with its neighbours and to the wide
disparity between the seven emirates. Sheikh Zayed was more
optimistic and the predictions of those early pessimists were shown
to be unfounded.
During his years in Al Ain, Sheikh Zayed had developed a vision of
how the country should progress. Once Ruler of Abu Dhabi, and then
President, he spent over three and a half decades making that
vision a reality.
One foundation of his philosophy as a leader was that the resources
of the country should be used to the benefit of the people. He saw
them not as a means unto themselves, but as a tool to facilitate the
development of what he believed to be the country’s real wealth –
its people, and, in particular, the younger generation.
 HISTORY 17

All citizens have a role to play in its development, he felt, and,

recognising that in the past a lack of education and development
had prevented women from participating fully in society, he took
rapid action to promote women’s education. Under his leadership,
the country’s women came increasingly to play their part in political
and economic life.
Sheikh Zayed also believed in the need to preserve the traditional
culture of the people, in order to familiarise the younger generation
with the ways of their ancestors. In his view, it was crucial that the
lessons and heritage of the past were remembered.

He who does not know his past cannot make the best of his present and
future, for it is from the past that we learn. We gain experience and we
take advantage of the lessons and results [of the past].

He was also a firm proponent of the conservation of the UAE’s

environment, deriving this belief from his own upbringing where a
sustainable use of resources required man to live in harmony with An abundant supply of water
nature. Here, as in other areas of national life, Sheikh Zayed believed enabled development.
that there was a role not only for government, but also for individuals,
both citizens and expatriates, and non-governmental institutions.
Sheikh Zayed imbibed the principles of Islam in his childhood and
they remained central to his beliefs throughout his life. He firmly
opposed those who pervert the message of Islam to justify harsh Sheikh Zayed on Abu Dhabi
dogmas, intolerance and terrorism. In his view, such an approach was Corniche in the 1970s.

not merely a perversion of the message but is in direct contradiction

of it. Extremism, he believed, has no place in Islam. In contrast, he
stressed that:

Islam is a civilising religion that gives mankind dignity. A Muslim is he

who does not inflict evil upon others. Islam is the religion of tolerance
and forgiveness, and not of war, of dialogue and understanding . . . To
treat every person, no matter what his creed or race, as a special soul
is a mark of Islam. It is just that point, embodied in the humanitarian
tenets of Islam, that makes us so proud of it.

Sheikh Zayed was an eager advocate of tolerance and a better

understanding between those of different faiths and was an ardent
advocate of dialogue between Muslims and Christians.
In foreign policy, his firmly held belief in eschewing rhetoric in
the search for solutions led the UAE to adopt an approach of seeking

@ www.uaeinteract.com/zayed
18 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
Sheikh Zayed with Sheikh
Maktoum and Sheikh Khalifa.
to find compromises, and to avoid, wherever possible, a resort to the
use of force, whether in the Arab arena or more widely. Under his
leadership, the country became a major donor of overseas aid, both
for infrastructural development and for humanitarian relief, whether
provided through civilian channels or, occasionally, by sending units
of the UAE Armed Forces as international peacekeepers, such as to
Kosovo in the late 1990s.
The UAE, under his leadership, also showed its preparedness to
fight to defend justice, as was seen by its participation in the war to
liberate Kuwait from occupation in 1990/91.
Sheikh Zayed died in November 2004, being succeeded as the UAE’s
President and as Ruler of Abu Dhabi by his eldest son, HH Sheikh
Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The principles and philosophy he
brought to government, however, remain at the core of the state, and
of its policies, today.
 GOVERNMENT

HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al

Nahyan was elected President of the
United Arab Emirates on 3 November
2004, succeeding his father, the late
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
 HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
Al Maktoum, Vice President and
Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler
of Dubai.
 21

GOVERNMENT
POLITICAL SYSTEM
SINCE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FEDERATION IN 1971, the seven emirates
that comprise the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have forged a distinct
national identity through consolidation of their federal status and
enjoy an enviable degree of political stability. The UAE’s political
system, a unique combination of the traditional and the modern, has
underpinned this success, enabling the country to develop a modern
administrative structure while, at the same time, ensuring that the best
of the traditions of the past are maintained, adapted and preserved.
Over the course of the last three years, major steps have been
taken, both at a federal and at a local level, in terms of reforming
the structure of government, these steps being designed both to
make it more responsive to the needs of the country’s population
and to ensure that it is better equipped to cope with the challenges
of development, in all spheres, in a manner that is in keeping with
current best practices in administration and the delivery of services,
as well as being more cost-effective.
The process has been directed at a federal level by the country’s Over the course of the
President, HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and has been last three years, major
devised and guided at an executive level by the Vice President and steps have been taken,
Prime Minister, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, both at a federal and a
who was appointed in early 2006, following his succession as Ruler local level , in terms of
of Dubai.
reforming the structure
Both leaders have also overseen major reforms in the structures of
of government.
government in Abu Dhabi, ruled by Sheikh Khalifa, and Dubai, ruled
by Sheikh Mohammed, these being implemented by the Executive
Councils of each emirate, chaired respectively by HH Sheikh
Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and
by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince
of Dubai.
The most important recent development was the formal launching
in early 2007 of a UAE Government Strategy for the years ahead.
Covering 21 individual topics, in the six sectors of social development,
economic development, public sector development, justice and safety,

@ www.uaeinteract.com/governmentaffairs
22 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
The UAE flag was first raised
on 2 December 1971.
infrastructure and rural areas development, the strategy was based
upon the National Programme unveiled by President HH Sheikh
Khalifa in December 2005. Drawn up after extensive consultation
between the federal ministries, as well as other bodies, the strategy
was launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, who noted that
it ‘sets the foundations for a new era of public administration. The
changing times and the nature of the challenges prompt us to think
in a different way and to adopt international best practices in the
area of public administration. This strategy unifies efforts within a
strategic framework with clear objectives, based on detailed studies
(and). . . clearly identifies and integrates federal and local efforts.’
Implementation of the strategy continued in 2008, with one of the
most important aspects being the enhancement of collaboration
between the federal authorities and those in each emirate.
Other general principles in the strategy include the revitalisation
of the regulatory and policy-making role of the ministries and the
improvement of their decision-making mechanisms, and increasing
of the efficiency of governmental bodies and upgrading of the level
of the services provided, in accordance with customer needs.
Other principles include an improvement of the civil service,
based on competence, effective Emiratisation and leadership training,
empowering the ministries, in accordance with public and joint
policies, and reviewing and upgrading of existing legislation.
A separate policy agenda for Abu Dhabi was announced in August
2007, covering that year and 2008. This included independent policy
statements providing details of plans in areas such as planning and
economy, energy, tourism, health, education, labour, civil services,
culture and heritage, food control, urban planning, transport, health
and safety, environment, municipal affairs, police and emergency
services, electronic government, women, and legislative reform.
The agenda is expected to enhance the spirit of teamwork among
government departments, improving government performance and
improving the quality of services delivered to residents of the emirate,
as well as enhancing Abu Dhabi’s ability to attract inward investment.
It was swiftly followed by a more detailed Plan Abu Dhabi 2030,
covering the city of Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s federal capital, and adjacent
areas. Work began in late 2008 on a new Plan 2030 for the Western
Region of Abu Dhabi, now called Al Gharbia, in an effort to ensure that
this area receives its full share of economic and social development.
 GOVERNMENT 23

One major initial step in the process of reform that was designed to Abu Dhabi, capital city of the
enhance public participation in government was the introduction of United Arab Emirates.

indirect elections to the country’s parliament, the Federal National

Council (FNC). First announced by HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed
Al Nahyan in his statement on the occasion of National Day on 2
December 2005, it provided for half of the FNC members for each
emirate to be elected by members of electoral colleges established by
each ruler, rather than being appointed by the ruler, as had previously
been the case. The 40 seats in the FNC are allocated to the individual
emirates on the basis of population and size, (eight each for Abu Dhabi
and Dubai, six each for Sharjah and Ra’s al-Khaimah, and four each for
Fujairah, Ajman and Umm al-Qaiwain).
The elections were held in late 2006, seeing a respectably high The system of indirect
turnout and with one woman among the successful candidates. elections to the FNC,
Once the remaining seats for each emirate had been filled by which was instituted in
nomination from the rulers, the new Federal National Council had 2006, is perceived as
nine women amongst its 40 members, representing 22.2 per cent of being only a first stage
the total, an indication of the way in which the UAE’s women are
in the reforming of the
expanding their participation in all levels of government and
FNC’s role in
political society. The system of indirect elections now in operation is
government.
perceived as being only a first stage in the reforming of the FNC’s
role in government, while further reforms being considered are an
expansion of the number of FNC members, to reflect the increase in
the number of the country’s citizens, now many times larger than it

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24 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
The UAE Constitution
specifies the powers
that are allocated to
the federal institutions,
all others remaining
the prerogative of the
individual emirates.
was when the UAE was founded in 1971. Consideration is also being
given to the introduction of an electoral process at local level,
although no timetable has yet been announced for this.
THE FEDERAL SYSTEM
The philosophy behind the federal state, officially entitled Dawlat al
Imarat al Arabiyya al Muttahida (State of the United Arab Emirates),
was explained in a statement that was released on 2 December
1971 as the new state was formally established:
The United Arab Emirates has been established as an independent
state, possessing sovereignty. It is part of the greater Arab nation. Its
aim is to maintain its independence, its sovereignty, its security and
its stability, in defence against any attack on its entity or on the entity
of any of its member Emirates. It also seeks to protect the freedoms
and rights of its people and to achieve trustworthy co-operation between
the Emirates for the common good. Among its aims, in addition to the
purposes above described, is to work for the sake of the progress of the
country in all fields, for the sake of providing a better life for its citizens,
to give assistance and support to Arab causes and interests, and to
support the charter of the United Nations and international morals.
Each emirate already had its own existing institutions of government
prior to 1971 and, to provide for the effective governing of the new
state, the rulers agreed to draw up a provisional Constitution
specifying the powers that were to be allocated to the new federal
institutions, all others remaining the prerogative of the emirates.
Areas of responsibility assigned to the federal authorities, under
Articles 120 and 121 of the Constitution, were foreign affairs, security
and defence, nationality and immigration issues, education, public
health, currency, postal, telephone and other communications services,
air traffic control and licensing of aircraft, in addition to a number of
other topics specifically prescribed, including labour relations, banking,
delimitation of territorial waters and extradition of criminals. The
Constitution also stated in Article 116 that ‘the Emirates shall exercise
all powers not assigned to the Federation by this Constitution’. This
was reaffirmed in Article 122, which stated that ‘the Emirates shall
have jurisdiction in all matters not assigned to the exclusive jurisdiction
of the Federation, in accordance with the provision of the preceding
two Articles’.
 GOVERNMENT 25

In May 1996, the UAE Federal Supreme Council approved two The UAE’s Federal National
amendments to the provisional Constitution, making it permanent Council in session.

and naming Abu Dhabi as the capital of the state.

The federal system of government includes a Supreme Council, a
Cabinet, or Council of Ministers, a parliamentary body, the Federal
National Council, and an independent judiciary, at the apex of which is
the Federal Supreme Court. The Supreme Council comprises the rulers
of each of the emirates, who elect a president and a vice president
from amongst their number, to serve for a five-year, renewable, term.
The Federal Supreme Council has both legislative and executive The federal system of
powers. It ratifies federal laws and decrees, plans general policy, government includes a
approves the nomination of the prime minister and accepts his Supreme Council, a
resignation. It also relieves him of his post upon the recommendation Cabinet, or Council of
of the president.
Ministers, a
The Council of Ministers or Cabinet, described in the Constitution
parliamentary body,
as ‘the executive authority’ for the federation, includes the usual
the Federal National
complement of ministerial portfolios and is headed by a prime
minister, chosen by the president in consultation with his colleagues Council, and an
on the Supreme Council. The prime minister, currently the vice independent judiciary.
president (although this has not always been the case), then proposes
a list of ministers, these then being ratified by the president. The
current Cabinet was appointed on 17 February 2008, according to the
proposal of Vice President and Prime Minister HH Sheikh Mohammed

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26 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

SUPREME COUNCIL MEMBERS

HH President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi
HH Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai
HH Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah
HH Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ra’s al-Khaimah
HH Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah
HH Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman
HH Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu’alla, Ruler of Umm al-Qaiwain

CROWN PRINCES
HH General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy
Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai
HH Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah
HH Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ra’s al-Khaimah
HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah
HH Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman
HH Sheikh Rashid bin Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla, Crown Prince of Umm al-Qaiwain

DEPUTIES OF THE RULERS

HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and Industry
HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai
HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah
HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Salim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah
HH Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Ra’s al-Khaimah
HH Sheikh Hamad bin Saif Al Sharqi, Deputy Ruler of Fujairah
HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Rashid Al Mu’alla, Deputy Ruler of Umm al-Qaiwain
 GOVERNMENT 27

MEMBERS OF THE CABINET

Prime Minister: Vice President HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Deputy Prime Minister: HH Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Deputy Prime Minister: HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Minister of Finance: HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Minister of Interior: Lt Gen. HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Minister of Presidential Affairs: HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Minister of Foreign Affairs: HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research: Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan
Minister of Public Works: Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan
Minister of Foreign Trade: Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi
Minister of Cabinet Affairs: Mohammed Abdullah Al Gargawi
Minister of Energy: Mohammed Dhaen Al Hamili
Minister of Economy: Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri
Minister of Social Affairs: Maryam Al Roumi
Minister of Education: Dr Hanif Hassan Ali
Minister of Health: Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qattami
Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development: Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al Owais
Minister of Justice: Dr Hadef bin Juaan Al Dhahiri
Minister of Environment and Water: Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad
Minister of Labour: Saqr Ghobash Saeed Ghobash
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs: Dr Mohammed Anwar Gargash
Minister of State for Financial Affairs: Obaid Humaid Al Tayer
Minister of State: Dr Maitha Salem Al Shamsi
Minister of State: Reem Ibrahim Al Hashimi

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28 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
Constitutional
amendments agreed
by the Federal
Supreme Council in
December 2008
granted the FNC new
powers to debate
foreign policy matters,
extended its term from
two to four years and
extended its annual
session from six to
seven months.
HH General Sheikh
Mohammed bin Zayed Al
Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu
Dhabi, Deputy Supreme
Commander of the
UAE Armed Forces.
bin Rashid Al Maktoum, He had previously formed his first Cabinet
in 2006, following his accession as Ruler of Dubai and election as
Vice President.
Following the death of the Ruler of Umm al-Qaiwain, HH Sheikh
Rashid bin Ahmed Al Mu’alla on 2 Januray 2009, he was succeeded
by his son and Crown Prince HH Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu’alla.
FEDERAL NATIONAL COUNCIL
The Federal National Council (FNC) is drawn from the emirates on the
basis of their population. As noted above, this body, initially wholly
appointed, has, since late 2006, had half of its members chosen
through a process of indirect elections.
Day-to-day operation of the FNC is governed by standing orders
based on the provisions of Article 85 of the Constitution, first issued in
1972 and subsequently amended by Federal Decree No. 97 of 1977.
The FNC plays an important role in consolidating the principles of
shura (consultation) in the country. Presided over by a speaker, or
either of two deputy speakers, elected from amongst its members, the
FNC has both a legislative and supervisory role under the Constitution.
It is responsible for examining, and amending, if necessary, all
proposed federal legislation, and may summon and question any
federal minister regarding ministry performance. The current FNC is
chaired by Abdul Aziz Abdullah Al Ghurair who was elected in 2006.
With its membership now partially elected, the FNC is currently
adopting a more pro-active role. In the long term, the objective is
that it will become a wholly elected body, although here, as elsewhere,
a cautious approach is being followed in the process of reform.
FEDERAL JUD ICIARY
The federal judiciary, whose total independence is guaranteed under
the Constitution, includes the Federal Supreme Court and Courts of
First Instance. The Federal Supreme Court consists of five judges
appointed by the Supreme Council of Rulers. The judges decide on the
constitutionality of federal laws and arbitrate on inter-emirate disputes
and disputes between the Federal Government and the emirates.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Parallel to, and interlocking with, the federal institutions, each emirate
also has its own local government. All have expanded significantly
 GOVERNMENT 29

as a result of the country’s growth over the last 37 years, though they
differ in complexity from emirate to emirate, depending on factors
such as population, area, and degree of development.
The largest and most populous emirate, Abu Dhabi, has its own
central governing organ, the Executive Council, chaired by the Crown
Prince, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, under which
there are a number of separate departments, equivalent to ministries.
A number of autonomous agencies, such as the Environmental Agency
– Abu Dhabi (EAD), the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) the Abu
Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, (ADACH) and the Health
Authority – Abu Dhabi (HAAD) also exist, with clearly specified powers.
The emirate is divided into two regions, Al Gharbia (previously
known as the Western Region) and the Eastern Region, headed by
Ruler’s Representatives. The main cities, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, are
administered by municipalities, each with a nominated municipal
council, these coming under the Department of Municipalities and
Agriculture, while an additional municipal authority has also been
created for Al Gharbia.
Abu Dhabi’s National Consultative Council, chaired by a Speaker,
and with 60 members selected from among the emirate’s main
tribes and families, undertakes a role similar to that of the FNC on a
country-wide level.
The Dubai Executive Council, established in 2003, has similar
functions for the UAE’s second-largest emirate. In late 2006, Sheikh
Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, now also Crown
Prince of Dubai, was appointed as the Council’s new Chairman,
since which time it has overseen a drive by local departments to
improve their efficiency and the coordination between their various
activities, as well as efforts to upgrade the level of services offered
to the public. It is also responsible for assisting the Ruler, Vice
President and Prime Minister HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, in
preparation of development plans for the emirate and in formulation
and implementation of both federal and local legislation. Key recent
developments have included a strengthening of Dubai’s Roads and
Transport Authority and of the Land Department, both key players
in the management of the emirate’s rapid development.
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin
Sharjah and Ajman also have Executive Councils, and Sharjah has
Mohammed bin Rashid
a Consultative Council that covers the whole emirate. In addition, Al Maktoum, Crown Prince
Sharjah, with three enclaves on the country’s east coast, has adopted of Dubai.

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30 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

the practice of devolving some authority on a local basis, with

branches of the Sharjah Emiri Diwan (Court), headed by deputy
chairmen, in both Kalba and Khor Fakkan. A similar pattern of
municipalities, departments and autonomous agencies can be found
in each of the other emirates. In smaller or more remote settlements,
the ruler of each emirate may choose a local representative, an emir
or wali, to act as a conduit through which the concerns of inhabitants
may be directed to government. In most cases, these are the leading
local tribal figures, whose authority derives both from their fellow
tribesmen and from the confidence placed in them by the ruler, an
example of the way in which leaders within the traditional system
have become involved with, and lend legitimacy to, the modern
structures of government.

FEDERAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

New systems of The powers of the various federal institutions and their relationship
government have with the separate local institutions have evolved and changed since
not replaced the the establishment of the state. Under the terms of the Constitution,
traditional forms which rulers may relinquish certain areas of authority to the Federal
Government, one significant such decision being that to unify the
coexist and evolve
armed forces in the mid-1970s.
alongside them.
The relationship between the federal and local governments
continues to evolve. As a result of the country’s rapid economic and
social development since 1971, including an increasing population and
rising educational standards, local governments in each emirate
now seek to assume, or to re-assume, functions that had previously
been assigned to the Federal Government, although not a federal
responsibility under the terms of the country’s constitution. This
process is likely to continue, in part because many well-qualified
Emiratis prefer, naturally, to perform governmental tasks in their home
emirate. These new systems of government have not, however,
replaced the traditional forms that coexist and evolve alongside them.

TRADITIONAL GOVERNMENT
Traditionally, the ruler of an emirate, the sheikh, was the leader of
the most powerful, though not necessarily the most populous, tribe,
while each tribe, and often its sub-sections, also had a chief or
sheikh. These maintained their authority only insofar as they were
able to retain the support of their people, in essence a form of direct
 GOVERNMENT 31

democracy. Part of that process was the unwritten but strong principle
that the people should have free access to their sheikh, and that he
should hold a frequent and open majlis, or council, in which his
fellow tribesmen could voice their opinions.
A continuing aspect of life in the UAE today, and one that is
essential to an understanding of its political system, is the way in
which the institution of the majlis maintains its relevance. In larger
emirates, not only the ruler, but also a number of other senior family
members, continue to hold open majlises (or majalis), in which
participants may raise a wide range of topics, both of personal
interest and of broader concern. In smaller emirates, the majlis of
the ruler himself, or of the crown prince or deputy ruler, remains the
main focus. To these majlises come traditionally minded tribesmen
who may have waited months for the opportunity to discuss with
their ruler directly, rather than pursuing their requests or complaints
through a modern governmental structure. Through such means,
the well-tested traditional methods of government in the United
Arab Emirates have been able to retain both their essential relevance
and unique vitality, and they continue to play an important role in
the evolution of the state today.

A BALANCED APPROACH
When the rulers of the emirates met 37 years ago to agree on the Despite the massive
forms of government for their new federal state, they deliberately economic growth and
chose not simply to copy from others but, instead, to work towards the social dislocation
a society that would offer the best of modern administration, while caused by an explosion
retaining the traditional forms of government, that, with their inherent in the population of the
commitment to consensus, discussion and direct democracy, offered UAE, the state has
the best features of the past.
enjoyed an enviable
With the benefit of hindsight, it is evident that they made the correct
degree of political
choice. For, despite the massive economic growth and the social
stability, largely due to
dislocation caused by an explosion in the population, the state has
the marrying of
enjoyed political stability. During the last few decades there have been
traditional and modern
numerous attempts to create federal states, both in the Arab world and
elsewhere. The UAE is the only one in the Arab world to have stood the forms of government.
test of time, proof of that being the smooth transition that occurred, in
government and throughout the country, following the death of the
federation’s founder, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

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32 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

SHEIKH KHALIFA BIN ZAYED AL NAHYAN

HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan was elected as President of the United
Arab Emirates on 3 November 2004, to succeed his father, the late HH Sheikh
Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, UAE President from 1971 to 2004, from whom, he
has said, he learned‘the need for patience and prudence in all things’.
Over the course of the last year, HH Sheikh Khalifa has continued to
demonstrate, both at home and in terms of the country’s external relations, that
he is strongly committed not only to the secure and stable development of the
UAE but also to its active participation in the international community.
Of particular importance at a local level was his decision late in 2008 to take
swift and decisive action to support the local economy, then being buffeted by
the global economic crisis. Although the UAE’s banking institutions are generally
well-funded, problems elsewhere were causing a worrying erosion of consumer
confidence. In September and October, the President ordered that the UAE
Central Bank should make a total of Dh120 billion (US$32.7 billion) available to
local banks, to help them maintain adequate levels of liquidity. His initiative
had an immediate effect in terms of restoring confidence. By the end of the
year, it was apparent that the UAE had succeeded in weathering at least the
worst aspects of the storm.
At an international level, the President met regularly with visiting leaders and
statesmen (see Foreign Affairs) and also oversaw the expansion of the country’s
programme of development aid and humanitarian assistance (see Foreign Aid),
as well as continuing to be a generous private donor. Recent donations have
included millions of US dollars for relief of flood victims in Yemen and in Pakistan’s
Baluchistan province.
Issues related to developments in the Arab world have, of course, continued
to be a major concern. In a statement on the occasion of the twentieth Arab
Summit in Damascus in March 2008, the President noted:

The circumstances through which the Arab Nation is currently passing require a
unified Arab stance, deeper consultations to eventually produce collective visions
and decisions in order to overcome serious challenges facing the present and
future of our Arab Nation, in particular the current situation in the occupied
Palestinian Territories, the ongoing Israeli siege on Gaza Strip, the situation in
Lebanon and in Iraq, in addition to the dangers that loom over other Arab
countries threatening their stability and security.
Despite all the difficult situations facing our Nation, we are completely confident
that a unified and one stance by the Arab Nation which already has the needed
 GOVERNMENT 33

capabilities would enable Arabs to overcome each and every obstacle as well as
achieve our common interests and goals.

Within the context of Arab affairs, Sheikh Khalifa has continued to emphasise
the country’s commitment to the six-member Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC)
which is seen as a fundamental building bloc for the long-term development of
greater co-operation throughout the region.
One wider focus of the President’s attention has been the challenges
posed by globalisation and the consequent necessity to devote resources to
tackling poverty and to spreading knowledge. In a message to the third
Global Knowledge Conference, held in Malaysia at the end of 2007, he noted
that the Arab world had, over the centuries, been a major contributor to the
dissemination of practical and science-based knowledge.
Among today’s key issues, he said, ‘there is perhaps none as important for
the future of our globe than the transmission of knowledge in an efficient
and equitable manner . . . We, in the Arab world, are anxious to participate in
these decisions and to engage others in taking the right path toward peace
and justice.’
Referring to the UAE’s own growth since it was formed in 1971, he went on:

we understand that if we hope to continue this progress we must continue to

focus on the transmission of knowledge for the sake of human development. . .
All of us have a stake in human development across the globe and we must carve
out a path to deliver the knowledge that will enhance the quality of life for our
fellow men and women . . .’
I know there are some who view globalisation as a negative and they point
out the distinct possibility that it will lead to greater inequities between the
‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’ of the globe . . . This, however, can be avoided if we
make careful decisions regarding the transmission of knowledge and if we do so
with an eye toward equity and the good of all mankind. . . We must make wise
decisions now to bring about a better world for future generations.

Since becoming President, Sheikh Khalifa has overseen dramatic changes in

the structure of government, both at a federal level and in the Emirate of Abu
Dhabi. In the latter, particular attention has been paid to two aspects –
improvements in terms of efficiency and cost for services provided to the
public and the opening up of much of the economy to provide greater scope
for direct private investment and for public-private partnerships. During the

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34 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

SHEIKH KHALIFA BIN ZAYED AL NAHYAN

early years of the federation, he believes, it was appropriate for government

to play the leading role, but now, with a burgeoning private sector and with a
well-educated population, the time is right for government to concentrate on
its core areas of responsibility. Now, the people of the UAE must take upon
themselves the task of contributing effectively. He noted in 2005 that:

It is high time for our political, religious, cultural, information, educational and
civil society institutions to take up their responsibilities to instil in our society the
values of love of work, to change the negative perceptions about vocational
work. It is high time to make them understand the true meaning of work – that it
means responsibility and reflects human, civil and religious values. These
institutions also need to work hard to diversify the skills of the national human
resources, to raise productivity, encourage investment in human resources
development, improve voluntary work and create awareness of this noble work
and its significance to individuals and society in general.

His character and performance as President, of course, can only be properly

understood in the context of his earlier life. He assumed his posts as Ruler of
Sheikh Khalifa with President
Abu Dhabi and President of the United Arab Emirates in 2004 after many
Nicolas Sarkozy of France.
decades working closely with his father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan,
the founder of the federation.
Born in the inland oasis-city of Al Ain in 1948, Sheikh Khalifa was educated
in the local school. On 18 September 1966, following his father’s assumption
of the post of Ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa was appointed as Ruler’s
Representative in the Eastern Region of Abu Dhabi and as Head of the Courts
Department in Al Ain.
On 1 February 1969 Sheikh Khalifa was nominated as Crown Prince of Abu
Dhabi, this being followed on 2 February 1969 by his appointment as the
Head of the Abu Dhabi Department of Defence, in which post he oversaw the
building up of the Abu Dhabi Defence Force (ADDF), which later became the
nucleus of the UAE Armed Forces.
On 1 July 1971, Sheikh Khalifa was appointed Prime Minister of Abu Dhabi
and Minister of Defence and Finance. On 23 December 1973, he assumed the
post of Deputy Prime Minister in the second UAE Federal Cabinet. Shortly
afterwards, when the Cabinet of Abu Dhabi was dissolved, as part of the process
of strengthening the institutions of the UAE Federation, Sheikh Khalifa was
appointed, on 20 January 1974, as the first Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive
Council, which replaced the emirate’s Cabinet. He was succeeded in this post in
 GOVERNMENT 35

November 2004 by Crown Prince HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Under Sheikh Khalifa’s direction, and in accordance with the instructions of
HH Sheikh Zayed, the Executive Council oversaw the implementation of a wide-
ranging development programme in Abu Dhabi.
Of particular importance in terms of ensuring that citizens benefited from
the country’s increasing wealth was the establishment by Sheikh Khalifa in
1981 of the Abu Dhabi Department of Social Services and Commercial
Buildings, charged with the provision of loans to citizens for construction.
The establishment of the Department, popularly known as the ‘Khalifa
Committee’, followed another decision taken by Sheikh Khalifa in 1979 to
alleviate the burden on citizens of the repayment of loans from the
commercial banks.
A further step to ensure that citizens were able to build the properties that
they needed, both for residential and for investment purposes, came with the
creation by Sheikh Khalifa of the Private Loans Authority, early in 1991.
President HH Sheikh Khalifa has also been involved extensively in other
areas of the country’s development. In May 1976, following the unification of
the armed forces of the Emirates, Sheikh Khalifa was nominated as Deputy
Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. In this capacity, he devoted
much attention to the building up of the country’s defensive capability,
through the establishment of many military training institutions and through
the procurement of the latest military equipment and training.
Sheikh Khalifa has held a number of other top posts in the Abu Dhabi
government. Since the late 1980s, for example, he has been Chairman of the
Supreme Petroleum Council, responsible for oversight of Abu Dhabi’s upstream
and downstream oil and gas industries, although he has also actively
encouraged diversification of the country’s economy away from dependence
on its depletable reserves of hydrocarbons.
He is also Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Investment Council, which oversees
management of the emirate’s financial reserves and investments and was
until 2006 the Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD),
which handles the country’s international development assistance programme,
and Honorary Chairman of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD).
He has stated that his key objectives as President of the United Arab
Emirates will be to continue on the path laid down by his father, whose
legacy, he says, ‘will continue to be the beacon guiding us into the future, a
prosperous future where security and stability will reign.’

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36 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL MAKTOUM

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime

Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, was born in 1949, the third of the four
sons of Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai (1958–1990) and
UAE Vice President (1971–1990).
Having finished secondary school in Dubai in 1966, HH Sheikh Mohammed
enrolled in the Bell School of Languages in Cambridge and then attended
Mons Officer Cadet School. In November 1968, he was appointed as Head of
Dubai Police and Public Security.
In addition to his academic education, HH Sheikh Mohammed acquired a
considerable amount of knowledge through being close to his father, Sheikh
Rashid, and frequently attending his majlis, which was always crowded with
intellectuals, politicians, businessmen and Dubai’s high-profile guests.
He grew up to witness important developments in the region, including
the creation of the federation between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, which launched
the establishment of the United Arab Emirates on 2 December 1971. He was
subsequently appointed as the UAE’s first Minister of Defence.
HH Sheikh Mohammed gained deep knowledge of the regional and global
situation and of international affairs. The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
trusted Sheikh Mohammed and relied on him, taking him to Arab, Gulf and
Islamic summits and involving him in following up on the important regional
events since the early 1970s.

Sheikh Mohammed enjoying one of his favourite pastimes, endurance racing.

 GOVERNMENT 37

Sheikh Mohammed with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on a state visit to China in 2008.

HH Sheikh Mohammed also took part in the building of Dubai, being

assigned by Sheikh Rashid major responsibilities in the economic sector, in
addition to his responsibilities for police and public security.
When Sheikh Rashid passed away in October 1990, his oldest son, Sheikh
Maktoum, succeeded him as Dubai Ruler and UAE Vice President. On 4 January
1995, Sheikh Maktoum appointed his brother Mohammed as Crown Prince of
Dubai and assigned him the tasks of governing Dubai. In only a few years, HH
Sheikh Mohammed succeeded in establishing the emirate as a tourism
destination and a global hub for business, trade, media, information technology,
aviation and financial services.
HH Sheikh Mohammed has always shown interest in the Arab world and
has voiced support for Arab causes. His aid and support have extended to all
parts of the Arab and Islamic worlds.
Following the death of his brother, Sheikh Maktoum, HH Sheikh Mohammed
bin Rashid Al Maktoum became the Ruler of Dubai on 4 January 2006.
HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates
subsequently nominated HH Sheikh Mohammed as UAE Prime Minister, and the
Supreme Council approved this nomination on 5 January 2006, also electing
HH Sheikh Mohammed as UAE Vice President. HH Sheikh Mohammed then
launched a campaign of administrative and legislative reforms that has resulted
in the first proper strategy for the UAE Federal Government and institutional and
ministerial restructuring. Under his premiership, the Government also
succeeded in carrying out the first elections for the Federal National Council.
HH Sheikh Mohammed has explained his extensive experience of the
development process in his book My Vision – Challenges in the Race for

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38 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL MAKTOUM

Excellence. In this, he stresses leadership and pioneering as the most

important factors for a successful development process and as being the two
necessary conditions for excellence.
In this context, HH Sheikh Mohammed says:
The UAE experience represents a role model for what a country can achieve
when it is blessed by a leadership that cares about people and works in the
interests of the whole community. Credibility in this drive is achieved by
actions not sayings. This makes the big difference between a leadership that
considers people as the real wealth of the nation and another that considers
them as the real burden.
To overcome challenges of a new century in a new millennium, we need a new
way of thinking and innovative approaches that help us achieve social
development and accelerate the development process. We need to change our
thinking patterns, to be able to understand the world’s language, to convey our
mission and stances clearly and simply so that the whole world can understand
us. This will help deepen cooperation and eliminate misunderstanding among
nations and will give the chance to direct all efforts towards development.
HH Sheikh Mohammed believes that Arabs share the same destiny. He says
in his book: ‘This continuous division is not normal. What is normal is for all
of us to be united. I wish for all the Arab brothers the same as I do for the
UAE. I hope they will be at the same level of the developed countries. I
expect them to reign, to lead, to achieve excellence in all fields.’
He also believes in the ability of the Arabs to achieve development. ‘Our
accomplishments are not just for us but for our Arab brothers. Dubai’s
projects are for all the Arabs, and I will never stop sharing our experience
with whoever can gain from them. In addition, we are committed to offer
our brothers all the possible support.’
HH Sheikh Mohammed has launched a number of initiatives to enhance
the key role played by the UAE on the regional and global arenas. In 2007, he
established the ‘Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation’ to
participate in the development of knowledge in the Arab world (see Media &
Culture). In the same year, he launched the‘Dubai Cares’campaign to improve
children’s access to primary education in developing countries. In its first year,
Dubai Cares succeeded in helping four million children in 13 countries in Asia
and Africa. In 2008, he launched Noor Dubai initiative for the prevention and
treatment of blindness and impaired vision (see Foreign Aid).
Sheikh Mohammed enjoys horse-riding, shooting and hunting. He is
also fond of Arabic poetry, being a master of the local style Nabati poetry.
 GOVERNMENT 39

FOREIGN POLICY The foreign policy of

the UAE is based upon
The foreign policy of the United Arab Emirates is based upon a set of a belief in the need for
guiding principles laid down by the country’s first President, Sheikh justice in international
Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. These are based upon a belief in the need dealings between
for justice in international dealings between states, including the
states, including the
necessity of adhering to the principle of non-interference in the
necessity of adhering
internal affairs of others and the pursuit, wherever possible, of peaceful
to the principle of non-
resolutions of disputes, together with a support for international
institutions, such as the United Nations. interference in the
Within the Arabian Gulf region, and in the broader Arab world, the internal affairs of
UAE has sought to enhance cooperation and to resolve disagreement others and the pursuit
through dialogue. Thus one of the central features of the country’s of peaceful resolutions
foreign policy has been the development of closer ties with its of disputes.
neighbours in the Arabian Peninsula. The Arab Gulf Cooperation
Council (AGCC), grouping the UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain,
Qatar and Oman, was founded at a summit conference held in Abu
Dhabi in May 1981, and has since become, with strong UAE support,
an effective and widely respected grouping.
President HH Sheikh Khalifa sees the promotion of intra-GCC ties as
being a fundamental element in the UAE’s foreign policy. ‘I strongly
believe that the Gulf region is one entity and one area,’ he has said.
‘Unity is strength. It is my hope that we would be able to forge a
greater union or federation, across the Gulf, not just in the UAE, and
the success of our federation in the UAE is a cause for hope. Unity is
a conviction and a belief.’
In its desire to work with other members of the international
community to promote the search for a just and lasting peace in
the Middle East, the UAE continued to urge other governments to
become pro-active on the issue throughout 2008. Leading UAE
officials, including the President, the Vice President and the Foreign
Minister have held discussions, both in the UAE and elsewhere, with
other global leaders, on ways to revitalise the peace process. The
election of a new US President in November 2008 brought the hope President Sheikh Khalifa bin
that a new approach might be adopted in Washington during 2009. Zayed Al Nahyan confers at
At the same time, the UAE frequently reaffirmed its support for the opening session of the
Arab Summit in Damascus.
the Palestinian people and for the Palestine Authority, while calling
on the Palestinians to unite so as to face effectively the challenges
before them.

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40 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
Former British Prime Minister
and Middle East Quartet
Representative, Tony Blair.
In a speech to the United Nations in October, in which he noted the
UAE’s concerns ‘about Israel’s growing lack of interest in negotiations’,
Foreign Minister HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan repeated
the call for the world community to act.
We call upon the International Community and, in particular, the United
Nations Security Council and the Middle East Quartet of powers, to
exert further pressure on Tel Aviv, so that it lifts the siege it has imposed
on the Palestinian people, and implements the international resolutions
related to the ending of its occupation of all those Palestinian and Arab
territories seized in 1967, including the Holy City of Jerusalem, the
Golan Heights and Lebanese territory. Such an ending of occupation
would be in compliance with legitimate international resolutions and
with the Arab Peace Initiative, which constitutes a sincere and practical
option for a solution of the Arab-Israeli conflict in such a way as to
guarantee both Israeli security and self-determination for the
Palestinians, through their exercising of their inalienable right to
establish their own independent state with Jerusalem as its capital, in
conformity with the Road Map for the peace process.
The UAE was an active participant in the decision of the March 2008
Arab summit, held in Damascus, to continue to promote the initiative
agreed by an earlier Beirut summit as a practical and real solution to
the Middle East crisis, noting that it took into account the fundamental
factors that must be included in any settlement.
The UAE continued throughout 2008 to provide support to the
Government of Iraq. Addressing a conference of Arab Foreign Ministers
in April, the UAE Foreign Minister said that the UAE would continue to
work through existing bilateral and collective frameworks to serve the
interests of Iraq and its people in order to sustain efforts for peace,
security and stability in the region and the world at large. ‘The states of
the Gulf Co-operation Council all share the hope that our whole region
may become stable and prosperous. As part of that aspiration, we
all look forward to Iraq being a full and active partner, both
contributing to the process of development and benefiting from it as
this will contribute to maintaining security, stability and prosperity in
our region’, he said.
Support for the Government in Iraq was not confined simply to
the political sphere. During 2008, the UAE was among the first Arab
countries to re-open its diplomatic mission in Baghdad while in August,
on the instructions of President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al
 GOVERNMENT 41

Nahyan, a decision was taken to write off debts and interest of over Sheikh Khalifa attends the
opening of the Arab Summit
US$7 billion owed by Iraq to the Emirates.
on 29 March 2008 in
In the UAE’s view, it is essential that all Iraqi parties should agree Damascus, Syria.
on a comprehensive political formula and that all parties must get
involved in the plan to strengthen security. There is also a need, the
UAE believes, to disarm all militias and restrict weapons only to the
security forces, so as to stop violence and chaos, and to resume the
political process with the objective of repairing Iraq’s economic and
social fabric while all groups should be encouraged to participate
actively in the political process and to engage in dialogue. In August 2008, the
The UAE also continued to offer support to the Government of UAE sent a letter of
Lebanon and the Foreign Minister attended the session of the Lebanese protest to the United
Parliament in May during which the country’s new President was
Nations over a move
elected after a long impasse.
by Iran to set up two
During the year, no visible progress was made on resolving the
offices on Abu Musa
long-running dispute with neighbouring Iran on the question of the
three UAE islands of Abu Musa and Greater and Lesser Tunb. Indeed, in in contravention of the
August, the UAE sent a letter of protest to the United Nations over a 1971 Memorandum
move by Iran to set up two offices on Abu Musa in contravention of the of Understanding on
1971 Memorandum of Understanding on the island. the island.

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42 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
UAE Foreign Minister
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed
Al Nahayan signing an
agreement with Kuwait.
‘Iran’s illegitimate actions on the Abu Musa Island violate the
provisions of the Memorandum and are a bid by Iran to change the
legal status on the Island’, the letter said. ‘Although the Memorandum
does not give Iran sovereignty over the island or even parts of it, nor
did it give Iran the right to take any security measures on it, Iran has
been violating the provisions of the Memorandum ever since 1980.’
In his UN General Assembly speech in October, Foreign Minister
HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan noted:
we adhere to our position of demanding a full restoration of the UAE’s
sovereignty over the three occupied islands, their territorial waters,
their air space, their continental shelf and their Exclusive Economic
Zone. These islands and their surrounding waters and air space are
integral parts of our national sovereignty and patrimony. We reiterate
that all actions, whether military or administrative, undertaken by
Iran with regards to these three islands since their occupation are
void, illegitimate, in breach of the United Nations Charter and of
the provisions of international law and the principles of good
neighbourliness. There is not, and cannot be, any legal effect related
to the Iranian actions, regardless of how much time may pass.
At the end of October, however, following an earlier visit to the UAE
by Iran’s President, the Foreign Minister visited Iran and signed a
Memorandum of Understanding with his Iranian colleague to establish
a joint commission between the two countries, which, it is hoped,
may lead to some steps to resolve the dispute.
The UAE has also continued to express concern about Iran’s nuclear
power programme, and has sought reassurances that the programme
is for peaceful purposes only.
Beyond the Arab world, the UAE has pursued a policy of seeking,
wherever possible, to build friendly relations with other nations,
both in the developing and in the industrialised world. While this
policy is implemented at a bilateral level, another important feature
of UAE policy has been its support for international bodies, like the
United Nations and its various agencies. Through its support for
such bodies, it seeks to reinforce the rule of international law, and to
support the implementation of internationally agreed conventions, so
as to protect the interests of the small, the weak and the powerless.
Relations have also been strengthened with other parts of the
world through conferences attended by regional groupings of which
the UAE is a member, such as a joint meeting between Arab and
Latin American states early in the year, followed by another between Arab Foreign Ministers and
Arab states and members of the European Union. other international officials at
the opening session of the
In October 2008, the UAE hosted the fourth in a series of Forums
Forum For The Future
for the Future, following earlier meetings in Morocco, Bahrain and conference in Abu Dhabi on
Jordan. Attended by senior officials from the Arab world, Turkey and 19 October 2008.
members of the G8 group of industrialised nations, the Forum focused
on ways of promoting political and social progress in the region.
The UAE also hosted a major conference of parliamentarians from
the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) for discussions on
regional security.
During the year, there was the usual steady flow of high-ranking
visitors from other countries to the Emirates, both from within the
Gulf and Arab world, and from further afield. Senior UAE officials,
including President HH Sheikh Khalifa, Vice President HH Sheikh
Mohammed bin Rashid and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and
Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, HH Sheikh
Mohammed bin Zayed, made numerous visits abroad.
(From L to R) Omani Foreign
Minister Yussef bin Alawi,
Japanese Deputy Foreign
Minister Seiko Hashimoto,
UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh
Abdullah bin Zayed Al
Nayhan, Syrian Foreign
Minister Walid Muallem, Arab
League Secretary General
Amr Mussa and Foreign
Minister of Bahrain Sheikh
Khaled bin Ahmad Al Khalifa
at the opening session of the
Forum For The Future
conference in Abu Dhabi on
19 October 2008.

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44 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
Sheikh Mohammed bin
Zayed Al Nahyan with
George W. Bush.
In November 2008, the
UAE became a member
of the Permanent Court
of Arbitration (PCA)
following its ratification
of the Convention for
the Pacific Settlement
of International
Disputes.
Throughout the year, the UAE continued to extend all possible
support to the international fight against terrorism, while emphasising
the necessity both of a clear definition of terrorism and of ensuring
that terrorism perpetrated by states should not be overlooked. Support
has been offered to countries suffering from terrorism, including
collaboration in terms of exchanges of information designed to help
law enforcement authorities track down and arrest suspects.
The United Arab Emirates believes, however, that the prevailing
climate of misunderstanding between different faiths and cultures is
used by terrorists and those who harbour them. It firmly supports,
therefore, the promotion of intercultural and interfaith dialogue.
The country took part in the Interfaith Dialogue initiated during
the year by King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia. Supreme
Council member HH Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi led
the UAE delegation, which also included Foreign Minister HH Sheikh
Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to the November 2008 conference
on ‘The Culture of Peace and Dialogue among Religions and Cultures’
held at the United Nations.
At the same time, the UAE has continued to argue that there is
a need for different societies and cultures to avoid acts which can
further deepen misunderstandings. Thus, referring to a decision
by a Dutch film-maker to release a film that was perceived as being
insulting to Islam and to the Prophet Mohammed, the Foreign Minister
noted that it was necessary to show respect for the religions of others
and to refrain from instigating hatred under the pretext of practicing
freedom of expression.
As noted at the beginning of this chapter, the UAE has always sought
to work with and to support the United Nations and its agencies.
During 2008, the UAE signed or ratified a number of international
conventions. Among these were the Protocol to the Convention on
the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, while preparations were nearing
completion at the end of the year for the signing of the Convention
against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment
or Punishment.
The UAE also signed the UN Convention for Suppression of
Nuclear Terrorism, as part of measures designed to ensure that its
own programme to develop peaceful uses of nuclear energy, within
the guidelines of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
fully complied with all applicable global agreements.
 While specific political issues, naturally, attracted much attention FNC Speaker Abdul Aziz Al
during 2008, the United Arab Emirates has continued to maintain Ghurair meets with Pope
Benedict in Rome.
its focus on a range of topics with a global relevance. Among these
has been the issue of human trafficking, which came to prominence
early in 2008 with the holding of a special UN forum in Vienna to
launch the UN Global Initiative to Fight Trafficking, UN.GIFT.
The UAE anti-human trafficking law Federal Law 51 of November The UAE is working
2006 was the first of its kind to be introduced in the Arabian Gulf closely with
region (see Social Development). As noted in the inaugural edition of international and
what will become an annual series of reports on efforts to combat regional law
trafficking to and in the UAE, human trafficking is a crime that crosses enforcement agencies
national borders, and the UAE is working closely with international and to apprehend those
regional law enforcement agencies, as well as the authorities in other
engaged in human
countries, to apprehend those engaged in trafficking.
trafficking.
In terms of the UAE itself, the country is particularly affected
because of its dynamic growth, which has prompted an inflow of
economic migrants from throughout the Arab world and the Asian
continent. This, in turn, increases the risk of trafficking, and the
Government expended considerable effort during 2008 in developing
strategies with the source countries of migrant labour to help to stamp
out trafficking in the countries of origin. A conference of Labour

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46 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
The Abu Dhabi
Declaration, an
agreement between
source and host
countries on ways of
regulating the flow of
contractual labour, was
signed in Abu Dhabi
early in 2008.
Boxes of dates donated to
Muslims in the Philippines
during the holy month of
Ramadan.
Ministers from source and host countries for migrant labour was held
in Abu Dhabi early in the year, at which an Abu Dhabi Declaration on
ways of regulating the flow of workers was agreed. This was followed
in late October by another major conference in Manila, Philippines,
attended by the UAE Minister of Labour (see Social Development).
Another issue of global concern was economic in nature, rather
than political, following the depression that hit the world like a
tsunami in the latter part of the year. While moving to ensure that,
as far as possible, the local economy was insulated (see Economy),
the Government moved to work with multilateral institutions like the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) as well as on a bilateral basis, to
help to shore up the economies of the countries most seriously affected.
During the year, the United Arab Emirates established diplomatic
relations with Montenegro and Kosovo, two of the successor states
to the former Yugoslavia, continuing its active involvement in this
area of south-eastern Europe. UAE forces earlier took part in peace-
keeping activities in Kosovo.
FOREIGN AID
Since the establishment of the United Arab Emirates, the country has
played an active role in the provision of aid to developing countries and
has been a major contributor of emergency relief to regions affected by
conflict and natural disasters. The philosophy behind the aid policy is
two-fold – first, a belief that help for the needy is a duty incumbent on
all Muslims and, second, that part of the country’s wealth from oil and
gas should be devoted to helping other countries which have been less
well-endowed. The philosophy was well-described by former UAE
President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan:
Foreign aid and assistance is one of the basic pillars of our foreign
policy. For we believe that there is no true benefit for us from the
wealth that we have unless it does not also reach those in need,
wherever they may be, and regardless of their nationality or beliefs.
That is why we have ensured that our brothers and our friends have
shared in our wealth.
The main UAE governmental agency for foreign aid is the Abu Dhabi
Fund for Development (ADFD) which was established in 1971, before
 GOVERNMENT 47

the creation of the UAE Federation. Its key priority is to contribute to

the economic development of developing countries through the
extension of loans to finance projects that help to reduce poverty and
to improve living conditions and quality of life. Since its establishment,
the ADFD has provided over Dh12.6 billion (US$3.45 billion) in soft
loans and grants to countries around the world. Of this amount, Dh12
billion (US$3.27 billion) has been provided as soft loans, for a total of
197 projects, with a further 23 grants, worth Dh666 million (US$181.5
million) also being made. Dh612 million (US$166.7 million) has Red Crescent collection
been provided as capital investment in 12 companies in developing of donations in a UAE
countries. In addition, the ADFD also manages 61 loans and grants shopping mall.

provided directly by the Abu Dhabi government. Since 1971, these

have accounted for a further Dh10 billion (US$2.72 billion), bringing
the total amount of the loans, grants and investments provided by the
fund or the Abu Dhabi government, and managed by the fund, to
around Dh24 billion (US$6.54 billion), covering 258 different projects
in a total of 52 countries.
In November 2008, the Abu Dhabi Fund announced a long term
loan of around US$278 million for rehabilitation of agricultural land
in the Central Asian state of Uzbekistan. The loan will be used for
three projects to improve management of water resources and to
repair dams and irrigation systems.
Other assistance has also been provided through commitments The ADFD has provided
made at various multilateral donor conferences. Between 1994 to mid- over Dh12.6 billion
2008, for example, around Dh15.4 billion (US$4.2 billion) has been (US$3.45 billion) on
provided for the Palestinians, including, most recently, US$300 million soft loans and grants to
pledged at a donor conference in Paris and an annual commitment of countries around the
US$43 million to support the Palestine National Authority. The UAE
world.
Federal Government also participates in a number of other multilateral
aid-giving institutions, including the International Development
Agency (IDA), and other bodies like the OPEC Fund for International
Development, the Arab Gulf Fund for the UN (AGFUND), the Arab
Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), the Abu Dhabi-
based Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) and the Islamic Development Bank
(IDB). In recent years, however, increasing attention has been paid to
various forms of humanitarian aid, destined for those in need because
of natural disasters or conflict and for those in such poverty and
urgent need that longer-term development projects will, quite simply,
not deliver help in time.

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48 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
Over the last few years,
the Red Crescent has
spent in excess of Dh2
billion (US$545 million)
on relief operations in a
total of 95 countries
throughout the globe,
with a special
emphasis on those in
need in Palestine, Iraq,
Lebanon, Afghanistan,
Sudan and the Horn of
Africa countries.
Clothes being sorted for
distribution at UAE Red
Crescent depot.
Red Crescent Authority
A key body in this process is the UAE Red Crescent Authority, chaired
by the country’s Deputy Prime Minister, Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al
Nahyan. The philosophy of the Red Crescent was spelt out in a major
speech given by Sheikh Hamdan on the occasion of World Refugee
Day in June. Referring specifically to the issue of refugees, he noted
that there was a growing problem of refugees throughout the world,
caused both by natural disasters and by conflict. This, he said,
‘poses a great challenge to the international community, humanitarian
organisations and other philanthropic bodies. What these refugees are
facing worldwide as a result of their exceptional situation requires a
concerted effort by the international community and the strengthening
of partnership among humanitarian organisations to try to improve
their situation,’ he said. ‘That is why the UAE continues to provide
humanitarian support, execute development programmes to help
alleviate the sufferings of those weak and innocent people,’ he added.
Over the last few years alone, the Red Crescent has spent over
Dh2 billion (US$545 million) on relief operations in a total of 95
countries throughout the globe, with a special emphasis on those in
need in Palestine, Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Sudan and the Horn
of Africa countries. In some cases, countries need a continuing
programme of assistance. The countries of the Horn of Africa, for
example, particularly Ethiopia and Somalia, but also Djibouti, Eritrea,
Sudan and Kenya, have been suffering from drought for several years.
During the course of the last year, over 2000 tonnes of foodstuffs
were delivered to these African states. Overall, since 1994, the Red
Crescent has provided Somalia with nearly Dh100 million (US$27.2
million) in emergency food supplies. Afghanistan is another country
that has needed a continuing programme of support, not just because
of the impact of natural calamities but also because many of its people
have suffered from and are continuing to suffer from conflict. Between
1997 and 2008, the Red Crescent supplied over Dh104 million
(US$28.3 million) in aid, while other UAE government and non-
governmental agencies have also contributed very substantial sums.
The Asian countries hit by the devastating tsunami in December
2004 and Pakistan, hit shortly afterwards by a major earthquake, have
also needed continuing assistance, since, once the initial needs of
survivors for food, medical assistance and shelter have been met, there
is a continuing need to help them rebuild their shattered communities.
 GOVERNMENT 49

Over the course of the last year, the Red Crescent has continued to
be the country’s premier emergency relief agency, at least in terms
of the number of countries in which it operates, even though some
of the larger privately funded charitable foundations have disbursed
more money. During 2007, it provided a total of around Dh281million
(US$76.5 million) in relief, humanitarian and development aid, 50 per
cent higher than in the previous year. Victims of natural disasters
and armed conflicts in 40 countries benefited. In the first half of
2008, a further Dh170.2 million (US$46.4 million) was disbursed. It
also handled the distribution and administration of funds allocated
by government and other private foundations, which amounted to a
substantially larger sum.
UAE Red Crescent relief programmes during 2008 included further
aid to the Palestinians. Following the closure of the Egyptian–Gaza
border early in the year for example, there were major food shortages
in Gaza, to which the Red Crescent responded by donating Dh367,000
(US$100,000) to UNRWA to purchase food. Other support included the
supply of polio vaccines for children. Further help for UNRWA included
a donation of Dh18.35 million (US$5 million) to fund the rehabilitation
of the Palestinian refugee camp at Neirab in Syria and a separate
agreement to sponsor Palestinian orphans.
The UN Agency has described the UAE Red Crescent as ‘our best The UAE Red Crescent
partner in the Arab region over the last ten years’, in terms of support now ranks in the top-
for aid for its programmes. The Agency’s Commissioner-General ten member
has also singled out the Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and organisations of the
Humanitarian Foundation for its help for the refugee camps, in ICRC in terms of the
particular in terms of helping children and providing them with access
amount of relief
to education.
assistance provided.
In May, following the earthquake which devastated Sichuan province
in China, the Red Crescent rushed emergency aid and medical
supplies to the area, while UAE President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin
Zayed Al Nahyan personally donated US$50 million to help the work.
Other Red Crescent help went to victims of a major earthquake in
Kyrgyzstan, cyclone victims in Madagascar, Burma and Bangladesh,
those affected by a disaster in Cairo, Egypt, in which part of a large
hill collapsed on a heavily populated area, orphans in the Indian
state of Kerala, those affected by conflict in Iraq and by famine in
Mauritania and flood victims in Algeria and Sudan, as well as to other
countries. Wherever possible, the Red Crescent seeks to establish

@ www.uaeinteract.com/aid
 UAE relief for victims of partnerships with other agencies, including, of course, other Red
cyclone Sidr in Dhaka. Crescent and Red Cross Societies from around the world. It now ranks
in the top ten member organisations of the International Committee of
the Red Cross in terms of the amount of relief assistance provided –
an impressive achievement for a country as small as the Emirates.
Other partners include the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP) the UN High Commission for Refugees, (UNHCR) the United
Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN Office for Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the United Nations Relief and Works
Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and the
World Food Programme (WFP).
The‘Generous Heart Two important global partnership initiatives have, however, had
Initiative’, a partnership their origins in the UAE itself. One is between the Red Crescent and
between the Red the Emirates World Heart Group, which brings together top cardiac
Crescent and the surgeons from all over the world to give their services for free to
Emirates World Heart those suffering from heart problems in developing countries, with
particular attention being paid to children with congenital heart
Group, brings together
problems. The ‘Generous Heart Initiative’, set up in July 2008, has
top cardiac surgeons
been equipped with mobile cardiac centres and provided help to
from all over the world
over 400 people within the first few months of its operation, with
to give their services patients coming from the Emirates, Eritrea, Sudan, Yemen, Iraq and
for free to those the Philippines. The Emirates World Heart Group also undertook heart
suffering from heart operations, free of charge, in Tanzania, within the framework of the
problems in Zayed Charity Initiative, originally launched by the UAE’s former
developing countries. President. Another UAE initiative to go global during 2008 was the
 GOVERNMENT 51

‘Generous Hands’ campaign, launched by HH Sheikha Fatima bint

Mubarak, widow of the former UAE President and Chairwoman of the
UAE’s General Women’s Union. This offers a special medical treatment
programme for those who cannot afford to pay for treatment and is
being managed by the UAE Red Crescent.
Those who suffer the most from natural disasters, as well as from
conflict, are often women and children, who may find it difficult to
compete for scarce supplies. A further new initiative during 2008
was specifically designed to address their needs. The Sheikha Fatima
bin Mubarak Fund for Refugee Women, established on the initiative
of HH Sheikha Fatima, was launched during Ramadan by the UAE
Red Crescent, acting in partnership with the Office of the UN High
Commissioner for Refugees. The proceeds of fund-raising will be
used to support the UNHCR’s projects in girls’ education, livelihood,
health and nutrition for some of the most vulnerable displaced women
and children around the world.

PRIVATE HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS

Besides the overseas aid and relief assistance provided by bodies like A wide range of private
the UAE Red Crescent, the private humanitarian efforts of the UAE’s humanitarian
leading figures have also been active during the course of the year. The organisations provide
Khalifa bin Zayed Charity Foundation, established by President HH both long-term and
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, made several major donations, emergency assistance
including Dh200 million (US$54.5 million dollars) to Afghanistan, to
to the needy at home
fund sustainable social, economic, health, educational and utilities
and abroad.
projects and Dh184 million (US$50 million) in emergency assistance
for China, following the Sichuan earthquake. Other assistance included
help in August for residents of areas in Pakistan hit by floods, while
in May, in a move designed to help those suffering from the world
shortage of wheat and consequent rising prices, the President donated
a million tonnes of wheat to Egypt and half a million tonnes to Yemen.
The Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian
Foundation, established by the former President, focused its attention
during 2008 on projects inside the UAE, but still spent around 30 per
cent of its budget overseas. In Africa, projects included a child care
centre in Niger, a college for management sciences in Burkino Faso, a
scientific institute in Liberia and a eye centre in The Gambia, with
other projects in the Philippines, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Pakistan,
Bangladesh, Tajikistan and Thailand and schools and Islamic Centres

@ www.uaeinteract.com/aid
52 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
Within its first year of
operations, Dubai Cares
provided education to
over four million
underprivileged
children in 13 countries
across Africa and Asia.
in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Sweden and Britain. Over the last
few years, the foundation has spent nearly Dh1,25 billion (US$340
million) on projects at home and abroad.
A lead in terms of generosity in giving has also been shown by HH
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and
Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. His Mohammed bin Rashid Charity
and Humanitarian Foundation has provided assistance for, amongst
others, hospitals in Palestine and earthquake victims in China and has
also worked successfully to encourage Dubai-based institutions to
donate lavishly to its projects.
Much more significant are two initiatives taken in the last couple of
years by HH Sheikh Mohammed that are designed to have a global
reach. In 2007, he launched the Dubai Cares campaign, with the initial
goal of providing primary education to one million underprivileged
children around the world. Within its first year of operations, Dubai
Cares had provided education to over four million children in 13
countries across Africa and Asia, far exceeding its original targets. In a
speech launching the campaign, HH Sheikh Mohammed noted:
The worst disease in this world is the unbreakable partnership between
ignorance and poverty. This partnership is the source of all evil from
which many countries suffer and it is the root of persecution, and the
main reason for divisions in the world between a wealthy North and a
poor South, between advanced countries and deprived countries, between
societies that know, and societies that do not know. The only way to
break this partnership between ignorance and poverty is by relentlessly
attacking ignorance and by exerting every effort to spread education. We
are doing our duty, regardless of the fact that many countries have
resigned from playing their role in combating illiteracy worldwide and
the international community is not able to fulfill its promises.
With well over Dh1 billion (US$273 million) raised to support its work,
Dubai Cares is already making a major impact on child illiteracy
worldwide. This was followed in 2008 by another project, the ‘Noor
Dubai’ (Light of Dubai) initiative, launched in September. Its objective is
to help at least one million people around the world who are suffering
from blindness and eye disease. Within a few weeks, hundreds of
patients, from over a dozen countries in Africa, the Arab world and
South Asia, arrived in Dubai for treatment, with top eye surgeons being
specially flown in from the United States and Europe.
With well over Dh1billion (US$273 million) raised to
support its work, Dubai Cares is already making a
major impact on child illiteracy worldwide.
54 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
UAE Red Crescent distributes
relief to labourers.
During 2008, a new
body, the External Aid
Liaison Bureau, was set
up in collaboration
with OCHA to
coordinate the
country’s many relief
programmes
worldwide.
Noor Dubai, which is being administered by the Dubai Health
Authority, is collaborating closely with the World Health Organisation
(WHO) and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness
(IAPB), to help them achieve their goals. It is also working with Lions
Clubs International, the world’s largest volunteer organisation with
an international network of 1.3 million members in 202 countries,
and ORBIS International, a global development organisation whose
mission is to treat and prevent blindness by strengthening the capacity
of local eye health partners. It is not possible in a summary of a year’s
events to give details of all the humanitarian assistance provided by all
public and private bodies and by individuals, both UAE citizens and
expatriates, throughout the Emirates. A further initiative that should be
recorded, however, was one designed to raise funds specifically for
Palestinian children, launched by HH Dr Sheikh Sultan Al Qasimi, Ruler
of Sharjah, and his wife, HH Sheikha Jawaher. Over Dh55 million
(US$15 million) was raised in the fund-raising drive, with Sheikh Sultan
saying that support for the campaign was a humanitarian duty. The
non-governmental Sharjah Charity Association also sent relief supplies
to Sri Lanka following heavy floods there in March, with much of the
assistance being funded by donations from the public.
HUMANITARIAN COORDINATION
As will be apparent from this review of the UAE’s involvement in
overseas aid, there are a number of important organisations within
the country engaged in the effort. During 2008, a new body was set up
to coordinate the country’s relief programmes, both governmental
and non-governmental. Called the External Aid Liaison Bureau and set
up in collaboration with the UN Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the new body is also chaired by Sheikh
Hamdan bin Zayed. Its main task, he said, will be to ‘seek to prevent
overlapping by combining efforts made by government and non-
government organisations in the humanitarian fields and to coordinate
with international relief agencies in a way that will enable quicker
intervention to ease the plight of people affected by natural disasters
and emergencies.’ The long-term objective is to see the unification of
all humanitarian aid being provided by the UAE, and to fully document
the country’s contributions to humanitarian projects worldwide. The
aid programme, Sheikh Hamdan has stressed, is designed to help all
those in need as a result of natural or man-made disasters, irrespective
of their geographical, religious and racial affiliations.
E CON O MIC DE VELOPMENT

Despite the steadying of economic growth

to 5.2 per cent in 2007, the UAE remained
one of the fastest growing economies in
the world.
As financial turmoil rocked world markets,
the UAE Government moved quickly to
ensure that there was sufficient liquidity
in the UAE’s banking system.
 57

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
THE ECONOMY
GIVEN THE WIDESPREAD TURMOIL THAT IMPACTED the global financial system
in 2008, it is somewhat reassuring to look at the UAE’s economic
performance before the credit crisis took central stage and also to
study statistics indicating how well it weathered the storm in 2008.
For many years the UAE’s Central Bank, like national monetary
agencies throughout the world, has been able to rely on a well-
established set of parameters to predict economic growth, money
supply and financial stability. By mid-2008 it seemed as if someone
had rewritten the rule book!
One of the main lessons learnt from the crisis was the intricate
connectivity of global markets: events in New York, Japan or London
reverberated throughout the world, even affecting economies such as
that of mainland China which were previously thought to enjoy
some degree of immunity from global financial turbulence. The
UAE, as one of the world’s largest suppliers of crude oil, had initially
benefited from high oil prices but, as the recessionary cycle took hold
and demand for hydrocarbons fell, the price of oil nose-dived from its
peak levels at nearly US$150 per barrel and it was clear that there
were no winners in a crisis that was continuing to unfold as this review
was being finalised.
The UAE’s real economic growth rate in 2007 was 5.2 per cent UAE GDP, at current
compared to 11.5 per cent in 2006. Meanwhile, nominal GDP (based prices, reached
on current prices) grew by 16.8 per cent in 2007 compared with 28.7 Dh729.73 billion in 2007,
per cent in 2006 and 25.6 per cent in 2005, GDP at current prices in up from Dh624 billion
2007 reaching Dh729.73 billion compared with Dh624.62 billion in in 2006
2006. Despite the steadying of economic growth, the country remained
one of the fastest growing economies on a global scale. This was not
solely due to a rise in value of the oil and gas sectors, which increased
by 18.2 per cent in 2007, related in part to a 13.1 per cent hike in
average oil prices. The non-oil sector also performed impressively,
reaching Dh467.9 billion, equivalent to 64.1 per cent of overall GDP.
Key factors influencing growth in the economy were (based on
Central Bank statistics) increases in the construction and building

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58 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

Percentage 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Dubai sector (25.6 per cent), along with significant growth in manufacturing
Singapore
Hong Kong and industry (19.8 per cent); real estate (16.9 per cent); the financial
Dublin
Zurich
sector (11.5 per cent); transportation and communications (8.3 per
Geneva cent); and tourism, which continued its steady growth at a rate of
Luxembourg
London 6.4 per cent. Added to these positive influences, the state maintained
New York
Tokyo
its strongly supportive role through investment in government services,
Moscow electricity and agriculture. Indeed, the government services sector
Paris
Shanghai output actually increased by 22.7 per cent in 2007, reaching a figure
Total corporate tax rate index –
of Dh49.27 billion.
selected cities (percentage). Notwithstanding a strong performance by the non-oil sector, there
Dubai. . . . . . . . . . . 14.4 London . . . . . . . . . 35.7 is no escaping the importance of oil and gas to the UAE’s economic
Singapore. . . . . . . 23.2 NewYork. . . . . . . . 46.2
Hong Kong. . . . . . 24.4 Tokyo. . . . . . . . . . . 52.0 performance. The UAE’s trade balance, for example, increased by
Dublin . . . . . . . . . . 28.9 Moscow . . . . . . . . 51.4 11.8 per cent in 2007 (despite a large increase in imported goods)
Zurich . . . . . . . . . . 29.1 Paris. . . . . . . . . . . . 66.3
Geneva . . . . . . . . . 29.1 Shanghai . . . . . . . 73.9 as a result of a 20.4 per cent increase in the value of exported
Luxembourg. . . . . 35.3
hydrocarbons (at Dh309.92 billion) along with a more or less similar
Source: World Bank
jump in non-oil exports. The 12.9 per cent average increase in oil
price over the year meant that the country was in positive growth
Percentage 0 400 800 1200 1600
territory regardless of any increase in the volume exported. In actual
Dubai fact the value of oil exports (including condensates) jumped by 22.5
Singapore
Hong Kong per cent to reach Dh261.42 billion in 2007, while gas exports rose
Dublin
Zurich
by 9.3 per cent in value, to reach Dh28.5 billion.
Geneva But diversification remains the key to achieving sustainable growth
Luxembourg
London in the UAE and the Government is firmly focused on encouraging the
New York
Tokyo
non-oil sector to maintain its major role in the country’s economy. As
Moscow mentioned above, at Dh467.9 billion, the UAE’s non-oil sector
Paris
Shanghai contributed around 64 per cent of total GDP in 2007.
The visible signs of massive economic activity throughout the
Annual cost of office space –
selected cities (euro per m2). country are apparent to even the most casual of observers. One of
Dubai . . . . . . . . . . . 552 London. . . . . . . . . . 901 the highest concentrations of cranes in the world speaks volumes
Singapore . . . . . . . 517 NewYork . . . . . . . . 564 about the incredible rate of construction taking place, particularly in
Hong Kong. . . . . 1,271 Tokyo. . . . . . . . . . 1,493
Dublin . . . . . . . . . . 486 Moscow. . . . . . . . . 602 Dubai and Abu Dhabi, but also in other emirates. It is no surprise,
Zurich . . . . . . . . . . . 592 Paris . . . . . . . . . . . . 694
Geneva. . . . . . . . . . 518 Shanghai . . . . . . . . 423 therefore, that the construction sector grew by a massive 25.6 per
Luxembourg . . . . . 480 cent in 2007, compared to 2006. Projects such as Jumeirah Beach
Source: Cushman & Wakefield, 2007
Residences, one of the world’s largest synchronised real estate
developments; the Jumeirah Palm, one of the world’s largest man-
made islands; Aldar’s massive Abu Dhabi Central Market project;
Burj Dubai (destined to be the world’s tallest building); the truly
magnificent Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque; together with a seemingly
unlimited number of skyscrapers and ongoing development work
 E CO N O M I C D E V E LO PM E N T 59

EXPENDITURE ON GDP 2004–2007 (millions AED, at current prices) By the end of 2008,
the Dubai property
800,000
sector was undergoing
700,000
a transitional phase,
600,000
companies were
500,000
reviewing their project
400,000
300,000
strategies, several
200,000 mega-developments
100,000 were being reviewed
0 and developers were
more cautious with their
2004 2005 2006 2007 investments on projects.
2004 2005 2006* 2007**
Gross domestic product 386,535 513,089 624,623 729,732
Private consumption 205,882 242,176 271,793 319,867
Gross fixed capital formation 81,255 93,798 120,999 148,479
Net exports of goods & services 51,720 119,847 167,209 177,761
Public consumption 44,286 51,544 57,961 76,190
Variation in the inventory 3,392 5,724 6,663 7,435

Source: Ministry of Economy * Adjusted ** Preliminary

on mega-projects such as Saadiyat Island, Al Reem, Jebel Ali Palm, Burj Dubai rises above
Deira Palm; Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai World Central the city.
and Dubailand, to mention only a few, leave one in little doubt that
the country is in a phase of rapid development and change.
Government has also maintained its focus on investing in its people,
placing a high priority on investment in education, health and social
services. The government services sector, which grew at 22.7 per cent,
represented 7 per cent of GDP in 2007 compared with 6 per cent in
the previous year.
Meanwhile, the UAE balance of payments estimates issued in the
Central Bank Report for 2007 reported a surplus of Dh183.24 billion
compared with Dh23.88 billion in 2006.

ECONOMIC REPORTING
The main official sources of economic information on the United
Arab Emirates are contained in regular reports issued by the UAE
Central Bank and by the Ministry of Economy. The Central Bank
(www.uaecentralbank.ae) issues an Annual Report along with annual

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60 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
The four primary sectors
attracting investment
and providing the main
driving force for moving
the economy forward
are hydrocarbons,
manufacturing,
transport and
communications,
and real estate.
Economic Bulletins and quarterly Statistical Bulletins. Central Bank
figures for the national economy are derived from a number of sources,
including the Ministry of Economy (www.economy.ae), which issues
an Annual Social and Economic Report each year. Individual emirates
also publish statistical reports, while some banks produce economic
studies covering particular aspects of the UAE economy.
FIXED CAPITAL FORMATION
Fixed investment in the UAE is one of the main drivers of economic
growth and employment creation. There are three main sources of
fixed capital investment, i.e. government investment, investment by
public institutions and investment by private entities. Almost Dh150
billion of fixed investment was made in 2007 (actual figure Dh148.5
billion), an increase of 22.7 per cent over 2006. Investments were
made across a wide range of sectors with private sector investment
accounting for 56.8 per cent of total investment, at Dh84.3 billion.
Meanwhile, public sector investment reached Dh43 billion and
accounted for 29 per cent of the total. Government investment in
major infrastructure projects such as roads, ports, airports, water
and electricity, government housing, schools, hospitals and healthcare
centres accounted for Dh21.2 billion or 14.2 per cent.
There are four primary sectors attracting investment and providing
the main driving force for moving the economy forward. These are
hydrocarbons, manufacturing, transport and communications, and
real estate. Approximately 11.1 per cent of investment in 2007 was in
the oil industry; 17 per cent in manufacturing; 18.3 per cent in
transport and communications and 14.6 per cent in the real estate
sector. Additional sectors include water and electricity, hotels and
restaurants.
BALANCE OF TRADE
Balance of trade figures achieved a surplus in 2007 of Dh236.15
billion compared with Dh211.30 billion in 2006. Total exports FOB
(including re-exports) reached Dh664.34 billion in 2007 as against
Dh534.66 billion in 2006, while total imports (FOB) rose to Dh428.19
billion in 2007, compared with Dh323.36 billion in 2006. Increase in
oil production, and a higher average oil price of US$71.7 compared
with US$63.50, helped to boost the value of oil exports (including
condensates) to Dh261.42 billion, compared with Dh213.37 billion
 E CO N O M I C D E V E LO PM E N T 61

GDP BY SECTOR (in millions of dirhams)

7% 6%
6% 7%
8% 6%
38% 39%
6% 8%
2006 2007
6% 6%

10% 10%
12% 8% 12%
7%

Sectors 2006* 2007**

(1) Non-financial enterprises sector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 554,611 . . . . . . . 647,394
Agriculture, livestock & fishery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,595 . . . . . . . . 12,797
Extractive industries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239,115. . . . . . . . . 282,633
A. Crude oil & natural gas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237,952. . . . . . . . . 281,340
B. Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,163 . . . . . . . . . . . 1,293
Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75,555. . . . . . . . . . 90,530
Electricity, gas & water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,796. . . . . . . . . . 10,893
Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46,428. . . . . . . . . . 58,301
Wholesale / retail trade & maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64,345. . . . . . . . . . 72,781
Restaurants & hotels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,733. . . . . . . . . . 11,419
Transportation, storage & communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39,631. . . . . . . . . . 42,926
Real estate & business services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47,455. . . . . . . . . . 55,495
Social & private services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,958 . . . . . . . . . . . 9,619

(2) Financial enterprises sector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36,705. . . . . . . . . 40,919

(3) Government services sector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40,153. . . . . . . . . 49,266

Household services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,702 . . . . . . . . . . . 2,798

.
(less) Imputed bank services charges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,548. . . . . . . . . . 10,645

TOTAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 624,623 . . . . . . . 729,732

Total non-oil sectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 386,671 . . . . . . . 448,392

Including agriculture, livestock & fishing; electricity & water; restaurants & hotels, social & personal services and household services
Source: Ministry of Economy * Adjusted data ** Preliminary data

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62 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

ESTIMATE OF UAE BALANCE OF PAYMENTS 2006–2007 (in millions of dirhams)

2006 2007*
Current Account Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132,375 . . . . . . . . . . . 135,936
Trade Balance (FOB). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211,302 . . . . . . . . . . . 309,922
Total Exports of Hydrocarbon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257,442 . . . . . . . . . . . . 257,442
Oil Exports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213,372 . . . . . . . . . . . . 261,422
Petroleum Products Exports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17,995. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20,000
Gas Exports.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26,075. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28,500
Total Goods Exports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104,518 . . . . . . . . . . . . 125,729
Free Zone Exports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75,286. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83,661
Other Exports 1 .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29,232. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42,068
Re-Exports 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172,706 . . . . . . . . . . . . 228,694
Total Exports and Re-Exports (FOB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 534,666 . . . . . . . . . . . 664,345
Total Imports (FOB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -323,364 . . . . . . . . . . -428,194
Total Imports (CIF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -367,459 . . . . . . . . . . -486,580
Other Imports 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -291,050. . . . . . . . . . . . -395,718
Free Zone Imports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -76,409 . . . . . . . . . . . . . -90,866

Services (NET) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -66,226 . . . . . . . . . . . . . -87,614

Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -14,157 . . . . . . . . . . . . . -19,174
Transport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -8,086 . . . . . . . . . . . . . -10,165
Government Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Freight and Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -44,095 . . . . . . . . . . . . . -58,390

Investment Income (NET) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17,400. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21,500

Banking System 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,800 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,150
Private Non-Banks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -600. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -1200
Enterprises of Public Sector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30,000. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41,100
Foreign Hydrocarbon Companies in UAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -20,800 . . . . . . . . . . . . . -26,550

Transfers (NET) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -30,101 . . . . . . . . . . . . . -34,111

Public Transfers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -2,025 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -2,159
Workers Transfers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -28,076 . . . . . . . . . . . . . -31952
1
Including estimates of other exports from all emirates.
2 Including re-exports of non-monetary gold.
3 Including estimate of imports from all emirates and imports of non-monetary gold.
4 Central Bank and all banks.

* Adjustable figures and preliminary estimates

Source: Central Bank Annual Report, 2007
 E CO N O M I C D E V E LO PM E N T 63

ESTIMATE OF UAE BALANCE OF PAYMENTS, continued

2006* 2007*
Capital and Financial Account (Net) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -58,987 . . . . . . . . . . . . .41,524
Capital Account 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . – . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .–
Financial Account. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -58,987 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41,524
Enterprise of Private Sector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87,593 . . . . . . . . . . . . .217,324
Direct Investment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,030 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-1,400
Outward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -40,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . .-53,500
Inward. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47,030 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52,100
Portfolio Investment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,400 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5,300
Banks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35,563 . . . . . . . . . . . . .178,324
Securities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -12,715 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-1,157
Other Investment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48,278 . . . . . . . . . . . . .179,481
Private Non-Banks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40,600 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35,100
Enterprises of Public Sector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -146,580 . . . . . . . . . . . .-175,800

Net Errors and Omissions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -49,503 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5,788

Overall Balance: Surplus (+) or Deficit (-) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23,885 . . . . . . . . . . .183,238

Change in Reserves (- indicates an increase). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -23,885 . . . . . . . . . . .-183,238

Net Foreign Assets with Central Bank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -24,034 . . . . . . . . . . . .-183,127
Reserve Position with I.M.F. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-111
5
Data not available at time of report.

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The UAE is a contracting party to GATT and
one of the original members of the WTO.
 E CO N O M I C D E V E LO PM E N T 65

in 2006. Non-hydrocarbon exports, including those from free zones

and elsewhere, reached Dh125.73 billion compared with Dh104.52
billion in 2006. The above figures made the UAE the second largest
trading nation in the Arab world in 2007.

STRUCTURAL FRAMEWORK
Economic policy approved by the Federal Supreme Council is
administered by the UAE Ministry of Economy, under its Minister,
Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, and the Ministry of Foreign Trade, under
its Minister, Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi. Whilst these federal ministries
set economic guidelines and provide the essential administrative
framework, individual emirates exercise a high degree of direct ‘Doing Business in the
control over their own economies and frequently play significant roles Arab World 2008’, a
in local business development.
joint report by the
The UAE is a contracting party to the General Agreement on Tariffs
International Finance
and Trade (GATT) and one of the original members of the World Trade
Corporation and the
Organisation (WTO). Its Constitution, Commercial Companies Law
and Trade Agencies Law (see below) form the main structure of federal World Bank, has ranked
legal instruments under which business and commerce operate. the UAE fourth in the
Within this framework, additional laws, decree-laws, ordinary decrees, Arab world and forty-
and regulations are promulgated from time to time to deal with sixth globally in terms of
specific issues affecting how business is conducted in the UAE. ease of doing business.

STRATEGIC PLANNING
As outlined in the chapter on Government, both federal and local
governments recently released strategic planning documents. The
major economic policies listed within the federal strategy were aimed
at stimulating economic growth, strengthening the competitiveness of
the UAE economy, and upgrading regulations and legislation to
match current and expected economic growth. Implicit within this
policy is the Government’s participation in empowering UAE citizens
to take the lead in developing the economy and the labour market. In
order to achieve this the Government has adopted a comprehensive
nationalisation policy to include leadership development and project
management.
Initiatives under the national strategy included establishment of a
National Competitiveness Council, a National Statistics Office, and a
Vocational Training Unit, with the collaboration of the private sector.
The strategy also contains commitments to formulate federal policies

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66 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

for small and medium-sized enterprises in cooperation with local

governments; and to prepare a federal framework for minimum
regulations for both free zones and special economic zones that would
encompass labour rights, conservation of the environment and
other issues.

Abu Dhabi Strategic Plan

Abu Dhabi’s strategic In May 2008 the Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development
five-year plan indicated (ADCED) issued its strategic plan for 2008–2012. The five-year plan
that the emirate will indicated that the emirate will develop more liberal economic policies,
develop more liberal boost its industrial infrastructure and provide more support to small
economic policies, and medium scale businesses enabling them play a more proactive
boost its industrial role in the development of the emirate.
infrastructure and An announcement at the launch of the five-year plan stated that:
provide additional ‘the legal regime will be revamped in order to encourage inward
support to small investment. This overhaul will include aspects such as licensing,
and medium scale transparency, free competition and incentives. In other words, the
businesses. entire business climate will be made investor-friendly’.
Abu Dhabi’s economic strategy may be summarised as follows:

• Premium education, health care and infrastructure assets

• A large empowered private sector
• Creation of a sustainable knowledge-based economy
• An optimal transparent regulatory environment
• Complete international and domestic security
• A continuation of strong and diverse international
relationships
• Emirate resource optimisation
• Maintenance of Abu Dhabi’s values, culture and heritage
• A significant and ongoing contribution to the federation
of the United Arab Emirates.

A central core of Abu Dhabi’s economic policy is to leverage the

emirate’s strong hydrocarbon sector to stimulate and support broader
economic diversification by strengthening downstream production
capabilities and expanding the proportion of value-added exports,
as well as diversifying into new industries on the back of ongoing
performance in the hydrocarbon sector.
 E CO N O M I C D E V E LO PM E N T 67

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX BY MAJOR GROUPS (2000=100)

200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
2004 2005 2006 2007
Relative weights 2004 2005 2006 2007
General consumer price index 100 114.6 121.7 133 147.8
“Foodstuff, beverage,& tobacco” 14.43 112 117 123.5 130.4
“Ready made garments, clothes & footwear” 6.74 112 114.8 119.2 127.6
House rent & related housing items 36.14 119 130.1 150.1 176.4
Furniture & related itmes 7.4 106.9 110.5 113.2 122.3
Medical care & health services 1.85 117 123.4 127.5 134.4
Transportation & communication 14.93 111.5 116.6 127.7 133
“Recreation, education & cultural services” 10.29 117.1 121.7 124.6 128.3
Other goods & services 8.22 111.1 117.8 125 146.1

Source: UAE Central Bank Statistical Bulletin, First Quarter 2008

Dubai’s Strategic Plan

In contrast to Abu Dhabi’s strategic plan, that of Dubai downplays Dubai is focusing on
the importance of oil revenues. In fact, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin economic sectors where
Rashid stated in his introductory remarks: ‘Oil’s contribution to GDP it holds a strong
is a mere three per cent today. Our economic development is now competitive advantage
supported by an infrastructure that is not directly affected by oil’. and ones that are
Looking forward to 2015, the plan, based on expected future global
expected to grow
trends, has as its objective the sustaining of real economic growth at
globally.
a rate of 11 per cent per annum to reach a GDP of US$108 billion in
2015, and to increase GDP per capita to US$44,000. In order to
achieve this, Dubai will focus on economic sectors where it holds a
strong competitive advantage and ones that are expected to grow
globally. The emirate’s key strengths are tourism, transport, trade,
construction and financial services. At the same time, according to
Sheikh Mohammed, growth enablers must not be ignored and he

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68 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
The Nielsen Global
Consumer Confidence
survey showed that out
of 52 countries surveyed,
UAE consumers ranked
the third most
optimistic as regards
their local job prospects
and the state of their
personal finances.
highlighted human capital, productivity, innovation, cost of doing
business and living, quality of life, policy and institutional frameworks,
and laws and regulations.
GLOBAL COMPETITIVE INDEX
The United Arab Emirates has consolidated its position as one of the
most competitive economies in the region, moving up by six positions
to thirty-first place in the Global Competitiveness Report 2008–2009,
released by the World Economic Forum.
Overall, the country improved its ranking across all pillars of the
Growth Competitiveness Index (GCI), experiencing a more stable
macroeconomic environment and a better assessment of the quality of
the educational system.
The country’s institutional environment provides competitive
advantage, characterised by a low regulatory burden (fifth), high public
trust in politicians (eighth), and reliable police services, positioning the
country at seventy-ninth in the global index. In addition, the use and
penetration of ICT and other advanced technologies are widespread
and are increasingly catching up with the rest of the world, allowing
the country to move up in the rankings to twenty-eight position in
this area.
INFLATION
Dubai was the thirty-fourth most expensive city in the world in 2007,
but this rating was adjusted in July 2008 to the fifty-second most
expensive city, just ahead of Perth in Australia. The survey of all the
world’s major cities by Mercer Consulting takes into consideration
monetary value, consumer confidence, investment, interest rates,
exchange rates of the country’s currency, and housing costs. Abu
Dhabi, meanwhile, was rated sixty-fifth in March 2008, a significant
improvement on its previous rating of forty-fifth most expensive
country in 2007. These rankings are worth comparing with the
situation in 2006 when Dubai was rated as the thirtieth most expensive
city in the world, ahead of Barcelona, Berlin, Singapore, Lisbon,
Istanbul, Mexico, Auckland, Athens, Moscow, Rio de Janeiro and
Manama, among many others. Mercer issued a report in July 2008
stating that Dubai had the third highest quality of living standards in
the Middle East and Africa, whilst Abu Dhabi is the best city in this
region for personal safety, followed by Dubai. The Government’s
 E CO N O M I C D E V E LO PM E N T 69

BANK CREDIT (GROSS) TO RESIDENTS BY ECONOMIC ACTIVITY

millions AEDs
Economic sector 2006 2007 350,000
Agriculture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,403 . . . . . . . . . . 1,664 300,000
Mining & industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30,072. . . . . . . . . 42,108
250,000
Electricity & water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,091. . . . . . . . . 12,536
200,000
Construction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54, 344. . . . . . . . . 68,417
150,000
Trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92,637 . . . . . . . 106,191
Transportation, storage & communication . . . . . . . . . . . 19,416. . . . . . . . . 21,987 100,000

Other financial institutions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,594. . . . . . . . . 36,941 50,000

Government. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47,885. . . . . . . . . 58,402 0

Others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198,719 . . . . . . . 299,236 2006 2007

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 474,161 . . . . . . 647,482

Source: UAE Central Bank Annual Report

measures to curb inflation have thus borne some fruit but the problem
has not gone away.
UAE citizens spend on average the equivalent of US$27 per day, UAE citizens spend on
reported to be one of the highest daily per capita consumer spending average the equivalent
rates in the world in 2008. This high consumer spending, accounting of US$27 per day,
for almost half of the UAE’s GDP, has been fuelled in part by the reported to be one
ease of obtaining credit from banks. The Abu Dhabi Department of of the highest daily
Planning and Economy, concerned about social and economic impacts
per capita consumer
of this situation, called for ‘stringent measures to limit the ceiling of
spending rates
personal loans’.
in the world.
The prime driving force of the inflationary pressure in the UAE
continues to be rental costs, which recorded a 17.5 per cent increase,
closely followed by ‘Other Goods and Services’ at 16.8 per cent. The
increase in average prices of other expenditure groups ranged from
3 to 8 per cent. Not only did house rentals and related costs register
the highest rate of increase but they also represent the most important
element in the basket of living costs, at 36 per cent.
The official inflation rate is calculated by measuring the percentage
change in prices of a representative basket of goods and services
consumed by the average household throughout the UAE. In 2007
the rate was calculated at 11.1 per cent: a figure that is considered
relatively high in global economies. This is a matter of key concern
to the Government, which has taken a number of measures to control

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70 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

DIRHAM EXCHANGE RATE INDEX AGAINST MAJOR FOREIGN CURRENCIES

(1999 = 100)
8

Jul‘07 Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan’08 Feb Mar

CURRENCY Jul‘07 Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan‘08 Feb Mar
US dollar 3.6725 3.6725 3.6725 3.6725 3.6725 3.6725 3.6725 3.6725 3.6725
Japanese Yen 0.0301 0.0314 0.032 0.0318 0.0331 0.0328 0.0304 0.0305 0.031
Euro 5.0372 5.007 5.0903 5.2309 5.3884 5.3764 4.7622 4.803 4.862
Pound Sterling 7.4676 7.3862 7.4147 7.5066 7.6025 7.4297 7.2044 7.1938 7.1443
Swiss Franc 3.0395 3.0585 3.0904 3.1315 3.2684 3.2429 2.9629 2.9464 3.0172
SDR 5.609 5.6172 5.6598 5.7229 5.8186 5.8032 5.4961 5.4823 5.535
Source: UAE Central Bank Annual Report

Throughout 2007 and
early 2008 the rate of
inflation was influenced
by a disadvantageous
dirham-dollar rate.
However, a long-awaited
reversal in the US dollar’s
international valuation
brought some relief
to the inflationary cycle
in the second half
of the year
the rising cost of living. Throughout 2007 and early 2008 the rate of
inflation was influenced by a disadvantageous dirham-dollar rate
since the latter fell against the currencies that account for the major
portion of UAE imports, making those goods more expensive in terms
of the national currency.
Whilst the dollar’s value was beyond the control of the UAE
authorities, some effective measures were introduced to dampen
inflation. These included capping annual increases on existing rental
agreements at 5 per cent (in 2008) and controlling prices of certain
basic commodities. In terms of the construction industry, which
reported very steep cost increases in 2007 and early 2008, the
Government supported increased cement production and exempted
both cement and steel from import duties.
However, these efforts only partially solved the situation and living
costs continued to rise. The construction industry faced the biggest
cost-control challenges with steel and concrete both showing large
price hikes in the first half of 2008. A report by the Abu Dhabi
Department of Planning and Economy, issued in August 2008, stated The Aquarium and Discovery
that steel prices in the emirate leapt by 91 per cent from 1 January to Centre in The Dubai Mall,
which opened its doors on 4
the end of June 2008, while those of cement rose 46 per cent. Abu November, has clinched the
Dhabi’s very substantial development programme, with projects Guinness World Record for the
worth at least US$54 billion under way in mid-2008, added to the ‘World's Largest Acrylic Panel’.
pressure on essential building supplies. Despite its own expanding
steel production, Abu Dhabi was still importing at least 60 per cent
of its requirements during 2008.
A long awaited reversal in the US dollar’s international valuation did By mid-2008 it was clear
however bring real relief to the inflationary cycle in the UAE. By mid- that the dollar had been
2008 it was clear that the dollar had been strengthening against other strengthening against
major currencies and the Governor of the Central Bank reaffirmed that other major currencies
there was no change in the region’s exchange rate policy. ‘We are
and the Governor of the
firm on the peg, there’s no revaluation . . . We see that inflation is
Central Bank reaffirmed
causing the United States to raise interest rates in the near future and
that is going to take the dollar up. So why do anything opposite to that revaluation was not
what is good for us?’, he stated. imminent.
Accurate data on UAE inflation rates was a prime target of UAE
regulatory bodies since certain media reports quoting inflationary
figures for the UAE were based on inadequate studies. This led to
a degree of confusion regarding actual inflation rates. In early
September 2008, the Abu Dhabi Department of Planning and
Economy (DPE) stated that it was working on a new index to cover
the whole UAE. The revised methodology used to calculate the CPI

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72 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
Economic diversification
has been a key plank of
UAE Government policy
since the founding of
the state in 1971.
figure, based on the results of a recent survey on household income
and expenditure, will provide a more accurate basis for inflation
calculations. Previously the ‘consumer basket’ comprised 500 items
of goods and services whereas the aim of the revised system was to
produce a unified basket for the whole of the UAE that includes more
than 1100 goods and services, divided into major categories. Instead
of the eight categories used in the past, the improved method, in
accordance with the Classification of Individual Consumption by
Purpose (COICOP), recognises twelve groups.
The IMF regional report issued in late October 2008 suggested
that the UAE’s inflation rate for 2008 would reach 12.9 per cent, a
16 per cent increase on the 2007 figure of 11.1 per cent.
DIVERSIFICATION
Diversification of the economy has been a key plank of UAE policy
ever since the founding of the state in 1971. Funded from oil and
gas sales, new investments were made initially in hydrocarbon and
energy-related industries such as aluminium and petrochemicals.
However, times are changing and dependence on oil and gas has fallen
significantly. As previously mentioned, Dubai’s vibrant economy only
receives a 3 per cent input from oil and gas. Its main businesses are in
tourism, transport, trade, construction and financial services.
Meanwhile, as mentioned above, Abu Dhabi, with over 90 per cent
of the UAE’s oil reserves, set forth its own plans for creating a more
diversified economy, both in its Policy Agenda 2007–2008 and in its
Strategic Plan 2008–2012. These two documents refer to diversifying
into ‘a raft of new areas.’ In addition to exporting raw materials in the
form of oil and gas, Abu Dhabi is adding further value to these by
increasing production of refined and semi-refined products.
On the broader economic front, the strategy document states that:
‘it is important to stress that the Abu Dhabi government’s strategy of
economic diversification is not misunderstood as simply ‘moving
away from oil and gas’. On the contrary, the continued significance of
hydrocarbons to the economy is the means by which a broader
diversification will be achieved and supported, and not the reason it is
necessary.’ It is the Abu Dhabi government’s stated intention to further
develop its energy sector both in terms of productivity and efficiency.
Another area of economic growth that Abu Dhabi is fostering is
tourism. The emirate has recently re-branded itself and has made a
The continued significance of
hydrocarbons to the economy is the
means by which a broader diversification
will be achieved and supported.
74 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
A strong focus on
transport in terms of
ports and airports,
shipping companies and
airlines, together with
efficient road networks,
has underpinned a
strategic plan aimed at
establishing the UAE as a
major transport hub
between Europe and
South-East Asia.
series of strong moves to boost its tourism development. Tourism has
already proved to be an important driver of Dubai’s economy. The UAE
is expecting to attract 11.2 million tourists by 2010, underlining its
successful efforts to boost investment in the development of the hotel
and hospitality industry throughout the country.
Manufacturing continues to be an essential component of economic
development in the UAE. The latest technologies and state-of-the-art
facilities are now a feature of the UAE’s manufacturing base, which
includes, among other sectors, food and beverages; chemicals, metals
and minerals; cement and blocks; ceramics; textiles and clothing;
pharmaceuticals; gold and jewellery. The UAE has pumped nearly
Dh29 billion into manufacturing projects over the past four years in
support of more than 1000 projects. National investors controlled
nearly 85 per cent of the cumulative industrial capital of around Dh72
billion at the end of 2007. Excluding the oil sector, the manufacturing
industries sector contribution to nominal GDP touched 20.2 per cent
in 2007. But it is the services sector that now plays the major role in
terms of its GDP contribution at 61.4 per cent in 2007.
A strong focus on transport in terms of ports and airports, shipping
companies and airlines, together with efficient road networks, has
underpinned a strategic plan aimed at creating a major transport hub
between Europe and south-east Asia.
The financial sector also played a valuable role in boosting the
UAE economy in 2007 when banks continued to benefit from profits
associated with financing applications for oversubscribed IPOs. Islamic
banking has also blossomed in the UAE, while the insurance sector
has shown robust growth. Projects like Dubai International Financial
Centre and the country’s stock exchanges in Abu Dhabi and Dubai
have provided a framework for growth in the financial sub-sector.
THE ‘E’ WORD
The ‘Internet Age’, embracing electronic communications, digital
data storage and wireless networks offers huge opportunities for both
governments and corporations in terms of enabling administrative
and commercial procedures. The UAE has been quick to recognise the
opportunity and has embraced the ‘E’ word in almost every area of its
activities. In so doing it has earned both national and international
recognition for the professionalism of its approach to establishing both
E-government and E-commerce.
 E CO N O M I C D E V E LO PM E N T 75

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs’

eGovernment Survey ranked the UAE in fifth position in terms of
transactional services, just behind developed countries such as Sweden,
Denmark, Norway and the US. The survey also placed the UAE in
thirty-second position among 192 United Nations member states in
the 2008 eGovernment Readiness Index.
A UN eGovernment
The United Arab Emirates also received two awards at the thirteenth
survey ranked the UAE in
Middle East eGovernment and eServices Excellence Awards. Organised
by the Middle East Excellence Awards Institute, the ‘eService Provider fifth position, just
Organisation of the Year’ award went to Abu Dhabi’s Department of behind developed
Planning and Economy, while the Dubai Police were winners of the countries such as
‘Information and Knowledge Portal of the Year’ award. Sweden.
The creation of an ‘eCouncil’, a digital electronic system to support
the members of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and employees of
the General Secretariat, was announced in 2008. It provides such time-
saving facilities as electronic agendas, click access to resolutions and
instant updating or signing of online documents along with an intranet.
Meanwhile, the Abu Dhabi Systems and Information Committee
(ADSIC) has been engaged with enhancing electronic communications
between local government bodies and the federal government. In
mid-2008 ADSIC was leading more than 75 e-government projects
including the Abu Dhabi Government Network, the Abu Dhabi Portal
(www.abudhabi.ae), and the Government Data Centre.
Electronic services provided by the portal include paying of traffic
fines, obtaining IDs for residents, applying for residency cancellation,
obtaining a fishing licence, accessing information about vacant
properties and their locations, and filing a complaint about hospital
services in Abu Dhabi. In addition, the Abu Dhabi Business Gateway,
also part of the government portal, provides useful information to
businesses and simplifies their access to, and interaction with
government agencies and services.
Dubai has been a leader in E-government and E-commerce since
the advent of the internet, with pioneering projects such as Tejari
having earned top recognition for their professionalism and excellence.
One of the more recent additions to the emirate’s E-status is its
integrated electronic payment system (E-pay), which was expected
to record revenues of Dh1 billion by the end of 2008. E-pay acts as a
payment gateway between Dubai residents and the government.
Revenues collected go directly to various government departments
without any physical interaction.

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76 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

25
Beginning in 2003 with 205 transactions amounting to Dh120,000
20 (US$32,697), the number of transactions had reached 555,562 by
Number of times mentioned

the end of August 2008, amounting to more than Dh602 million

15
(US$164 million). By the end of 2007 such non-conventional
10 channels provided residents with quick access to 91 per cent of Dubai
government services.
5

Top 5 financial centres that FINANCIAL SECTOR

might become significant
Dubai. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Shanghai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
FINANCIAL MARKETS
Singapore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Despite the turmoil that gripped world stock markets in 2008, the
Malta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 UAE’s financial markets have played an important role in the UAE’s
Beijing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
economic growth. There is also growing evidence that the UAE is
Source: The Global Financial Centres Index
rapidly climbing up the global ladder of financial centres. London’s
Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI) for March 2008 ranked Dubai
25
twenty-fourth, ahead of cities like Shanghai, Stockholm, Brussels,
Mumbai and Madrid. Outside Europe and North America, Dubai was
20 ranked fifth in the world and as a destination where businesses are
Number of times mentioned

15
10
5
0
Top 5 financial centres where
organisations may open new
operations in the next two or
three years.
Dubai. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Luxembourg. . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Singapore. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Mumbai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Malta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Source: The Global Financial Centres Index
thinking of opening in the next few years, Dubai ranked in first place
in the overall GFCI Index.
ADX (FORMERLY ADSM)
Abu Dhabi Securities Market (ADSM) continued its impressive growth
in 2007 with trading volume expanding by 148 per cent; traded shares
in the exchange’s 64 listed companies growing by 360.9 per cent and
executed deals by 54.1 per cent over 2006 levels. Share prices of 53
companies advanced, eight declined and three remained unchanged.
Market capitalisation of listed companies reached Dh445.14 billion and
the general share price index rose by 34 per cent to reach 4,551.80
on 31 December 2007. The lion’s share of the equity market was
dominated (in terms of the traded shares) by real estate, at 36.4 per
cent. Banking and financial services accounted for almost exactly
a quarter of the total value of traded shares; followed by construction
(14.8 per cent), energy (14.7 per cent) and telecommunications (4.8
per cent).
In May 2008 the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) was adopted
as the new name for ADSM. The renaming and accompanying
re-branding reflected the increasing diversity and sophistication of Investors at DFM follow stock
the types of securities to be traded on the exchange. A new corporate market activity as global
equities tumbled.
logo, featuring the abbreviation ADX in blue and grey, accompanied
the name change. The ADX announced plans to add exchange-traded
funds and foreign listings to its existing offering of share trading in
publicly listed companies.
Soon after the name change ADX announced its new strategic
plan for 2008–2012, under the slogan ‘Excellence among Regional
Stock Markets’. The new plan emphasised ADX’s commitment to
transparency and high standards of governance, and promised to
involve the community with the market’s effort to develop and
improve. One of the plan’s key objectives is to encourage more
institutional participation in the ADX market, making it a preferred
destination for international investment.
Following the impressive growth of 2007, there was another giant
leap in terms of the growth of ADX in the first half of 2008 when the
value of traded securities trebled compared to the first half of 2007.
From 1 January to 30 June 2008, Dh163 billion (US$44 billion) worth
of shares were traded compared to Dh51 billion (US$14 billion) in the
same period of 2007. The number of shares traded and the number of
individual trades also increased dramatically, by 93 per cent and 60
per cent respectively.

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78 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
British Prime Minister Gordon
Brown and Director General
of DIFC Omar bin Suleiman
in front of the main gate
of the DIFC.
The ADX index was up by 9 per cent in the first half of 2008,
reflecting the quality of companies trading through the exchange.
Meanwhile, the exchange was actively encouraging foreign investors
into the market as well as UAE citizens, since a broader and more
international investor base is important for long-term sustainability.
After UAE citizens, UK investors were the most active in trading on
ADX. In fact, by mid-2008, UK investors owned Dh18.2 billion (US$5
billion) worth of ADX traded shares – an increase of Dh15 billion
(US$4.1 billion) in the first half of 2008. Among ADX priorities are
plans to develop the debt market, list Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)
on ADX, and develop a derivatives market.
The financial crisis that hit world markets in the autumn of 2008
severely impacted UAE stock markets. In the case of the Abu Dhabi
market, by late December 2008, the Abu Dhabi index had fallen by
49.9 per cent from the year’s opening figure and the volatility was
continuing.
Dubai Financial Market (DFM)
DFM also grew in 2007 with value of traded shares reaching Dh379
billion, an increase of Dh31.44 billion over 2006 figures. Over 100
billion (105.26 billion) shares in 58 listed companies were traded
during the year, a massive increase of 265 per cent compared to the
2006 figure. The number of transactions actually fell however, reaching
2.25 million compared with 2.42 million the previous year. Twelve
new companies were added to the DFM list during the year and
their market capitalisation reached Dh499.72 billion (US$136.16
billion), an increase of 60.5 per cent over the 2006 figure. Once
again the lion’s share of the market was taken up by real estate
and construction, at 38.3 per cent, and other major sectors were
investment and financial services (21.7 per cent), banking (17 per
cent) and transportation (14.6 per cent).
As of the end of December 2008, DFM had recorded a fall of 73
per cent from the beginning of the year.
Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)
DIFC is an onshore hub for global finance, bridging the time zone
disparity between the financial centres of Hong Kong and London. It
also services a region with the largest untapped emerging market for
financial services. Possibly the fastest-growing financial centre in the
world, the DIFC is home to over 600 companies that include the
Stock markets in the UAE were not
immune to the financial turmoil
experienced around the world in the
second half of 2008.
80 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

world’s leading financial services companies and banks. Over the

last four years, DIFC has emerged as a gateway to the growing
financial market in the Middle East region and a key player in the
global financial industry. The DIFC offers its member institutions
incentives such as 100 per cent foreign ownership, zero tax on income
and profits and no restrictions on foreign exchange.
Corporate governance along with transparency are cornerstones of
confidence building in equity markets and the UAE has continued to
raise standards on these issues, helping to underpin growth in their
The UAE has continued stock markets. Central to all business agreements is an effective
to raise standards of means to settle disagreements. In early September 2008 DIFC
corporate governance announced its plans to offer state-of-the art facilities for arbitration.
and transparency, Working under a new Arbitration Law, the DIFC-LCIA Arbitration
thereby helping to Centre provides neutral, efficient and reliable dispute resolution
underpin confidence in services to companies worldwide and enables DIFC to position itself as
equity markets. a world-class centre for arbitration.
Cognisant of the fact that the vast majority of regional companies in
the UAE and the surrounding region are owned by single family groups,
DIFC announced in September 2008 a new programme to enable
such groups, known as SFOs (Single Family Offices) to establish
holding companies at DIFC in order to assist them with managing
private family wealth. The DIFC Single Family Office (SFO) regulations
specifically address the needs of family-run institutions. In contrast to
conventional financial institutions, SFOs have no direct public liability
as all their shareholders are bloodline descendants of a common
ancestor. As such, their regulatory requirements differ significantly. The
enactment of the regulations followed a period of consultation where
companies were invited to comment on the proposed regulations. The
new regulations came into effect on 2 September 2008.

NASDAQ Dubai
NASDAQ Dubai (formerly called Dubai International Financial
Exchange or DIFX) is the international stock exchange between
Western Europe and East Asia (see www.nasdaqdubai.com). In late
November 2007, DP World, the international ports operator, selected
DIFX to launch the Middle East’s largest initial public offering (IPO)
valued at US$4.96 billion. It was also the first IPO to be listed
exclusively on the DIFX and its offering to a wide range of institutional
and retail investors was oversubscribed more than 15 times.
 E CO N O M I C D E V E LO PM E N T 81

DEPOSITS ACCORDING TO OWNERSHIP

300,000
millions AEDs
Sectors 2006 2007 250,000

Total deposits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 518,806 . . . . . . 716,021 200,000

A) Residents’deposits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 469,322 . . . . . . . 651,338

150,000
Government. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93,680 . . . . . . . 114,579
Public sector*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38,142. . . . . . . . . 36,196 100,000

Private sector*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176,046 . . . . . . . 272,241 50,000

Individuals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142,321 . . . . . . . 202,780
0
Others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,133. . . . . . . . . 25,542 2006 2007
Deposits according to
Non-residents’deposits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49,484. . . . . . . . 64,683
ownership.

Source: UAE Central Bank Annual Report

400,000
DEPOSITS ACCORDING TO TYPE & CURRENCY
300,000
millions AEDs
Items 2006 2007 200,000

A) Type: 100,000

Current deposits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123,886 . . . . . . . 188,859 0

2006 2007
Savings deposits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22,170. . . . . . . . . 30,234 Deposits according to type.
Time deposits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272,367 . . . . . . . 371,865
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 418,423 . . . . . . 590,958 500,000
B) Currency: 400,000
Deposits in local currency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282,166 . . . . . . . 454,229 300,000
Deposits in foreign currency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136,257 . . . . . . . 136,729 200,000
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 418,423 . . . . . . 590,958 100,000

0
Source: UAE Central Bank Annual Report 2006 2007
Deposits according to currency.

The chairman of Borse Dubai, the holding company for the Dubai
NASDAQ, commented at the time: ‘This step is in line with Borse
Dubai’s strategy to attract leading local companies, which will act as a
catalyst to attract further substantial equity listings from regional
and international companies.’
NASDAQ Dubai recently announced plans to establish a derivatives
trading market that will offer investors the option to trade on
individual stocks or derivative stocks representing the whole index,

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 as well as future contracts. The initial derivatives were to be futures
and options on equities listed on GCC stock markets, as well as futures
and options on selected equity indices.

BANKING
The UAE banking and finance sector enjoyed an extremely active year
in 2007 with the aggregated balance sheet of banks operating in the
The UAE banking sector UAE increasing by 42.3 per cent to reach Dh1223.07 billion against
enjoyed an extremely Dh859.57 billion at the end of 2006. Cash and deposits with the
active year in 2007 with Central Bank increased by 273.5 per cent to reach Dh236.85 billion.
the aggregated balance Net foreign assets of banks reversed during the year, with a 15.1 per
sheet of banks operating cent decrease in assets and an 80.6 per cent increase in liabilities
in the UAE increasing resulting in a negative figure of Dh124.04 billion.
by 42.3 per cent. As already noted above, credit issued to residents increased quite
However, by August sharply, by 36.6 per cent, mainly in the form of loans, advances and
2008 it was clear that overdrafts. Credit issued to all other sectors also increased: the trade
UAE banks that had sector by 21.6 per cent, the construction sector by 25.09 per cent, the
experienced strong government sector by 22 per cent, mining and industry sector by 40
profit growth in recent per cent, to other financial institutions by 98.7 per cent, transportation,
years would be affected storage and communications by 13.2 per cent, agriculture by 18.6 per
by signs of cooling cent, and water and electricity by 13 per cent. Finally, credit to other
in the property sector. sectors increased by 50.6 per cent.
The total value of deposits with banks operating in the UAE at the
end of 2007 amounted to Dh716.02 billion or 38 per cent more than
 E CO N O M I C D E V E LO PM E N T 83

at the end of 2006. The rise was mainly due to sharp increases in
deposits by both residents and non-residents. Meanwhile, private
sector deposits from business, industries and financial institutions
increased by 54.6 per cent. Excluding government deposits and
commercial prepayments, bank deposits increased in all categories:
current account deposits by 52.4 per cent; time deposits by 36.5
per cent and savings deposits by 36.4 per cent.
The capital position at the end of 2007 indicated that the total of
capital and reserves accounts at these banks reached Dh130.88
billion, an increase of 25.7 per cent compared to the position at the
end of 2006. As a result the position of capital and reserves to total
assets reached 10.7 per cent. Meanwhile, unclassified liabilities fell by
just over 41 per cent.
The first half of 2008 saw a continued growth and strong profitability
of many UAE banks. In fact, net profits of UAE banks were up by
nearly 40 per cent. This was due to a surge in credits and investments
resulting in net earnings of the country’s 24 national banks and 28
foreign units reaching Dh16 billion in the first six months of 2008 LIQUIDITY MEASURES
compared with Dh11.4 billion in the first half of 2007.
But the UAE’s banking sector is not immune from global forces or 22/09/08
UAE sets up Dh50
from the general downturn in the financial sector that was triggered by
billion emergency
the sub-prime mortgage crisis in the US and the subsequent downturn
facility for banks
in property values. Investor sentiment, influenced by the recessionary operating in the UAE.
trends that began to hit western economies in 2008, fed through
08/10/08
to UAE investors and affected many local companies despite their
Central Bank lowers
strong fundamentals. This, in turn, fed through to the banking
its repo rate to 1.5%
sector, resulting in a lowering of expectations for regional banks from 2.0%.
performances during 2008.
By August 2008 it was clear that UAE banks that had experienced 12/10/08
UAE guarantees
strong profit growth in recent years would be affected by signs of
deposits of local
cooling in the property sector. Strong loan growth, due largely to
banks and foreign
the increased spending on public and private infrastructure and banks with core
construction projects, and the boost they have given to the property operations in UAE
market, left some banks potentially vulnerable to any reversal of these
14/10/08
trends. Concerned that banks could find themselves in dangerous
UAE announces it will
territory, the Central Bank enforced regulations limiting the amount
inject Dh70 billion
that banks can lend against their deposits. It was hoped that this would into banking system
ease inflation and prevent banks from overexposure to the property as long term deposits
market. At the same time, a tightening of available credit avenues in

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84 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
In late November,
Islamic mortgage
lenders Amlak Finance
and Tamweel, both of
which were struggling
due to a downturn in the
Dubai property market,
were merged under the
Abu Dhabi-based Real
Estate Bank. The UAE's
Ministerial Council for
Services also approved
the merger of the Real
Estate Bank and the
Emirates Industrial Bank
to form the Emirates
Development Bank.
CENTRAL BANK STATEMENT
In early October 2008 the Governor of the UAE Central Bank H.E.
Sultan bin Nasser Al Suwaidi visited Washington DC to attend the
IMF/WB Annual Meetings. A considerable amount of time at the
meetings was dedicated to discuss the liquidity crisis and the
financial markets turmoil especially in the advanced industrial
countries. The discussion included analysis of reasons that led to these
crises and solutions or what is called policy response, i.e. changes in
monetary policies and those relating to capital markets.
The Central Bank took advantage of the occasion, on 11 October 2008,
to comment on the status of UAE Banks:
. . . national banks and foreign banks enjoy a strong financial position, as the
ownership of deposits are distributed as follows:
– Nationals 75 per cent
– Arab 8 per cent
– Other nationalities 17 per cent
and the ownership of nationals and Arabs of deposits at national banks is
higher. Also banks financing from the European Commercial Paper issues
(ECP) and Medium-Term Notes (MTN) to the total bank assets is 9.9 per
cent only.
As for the inter-bank deposits percentage, it is 12.7 per cent to the total
assets and most of these are owned by banks in the UAE.
For the assets side, the majority of assets of national and foreign banks
operating in the UAE are in the UAE and their parties are known and
sound, contrary to what is there in other economies where most parties in
these countries are unknown.
And for capital of banks and their reserves, they represent 11.02 per
cent of bank assets, which is considered high according to Basel II
standards.
Thus, national banks and branches of foreign banks operating in the
UAE are constructed on safe and sound foundations of 77.4 per cent of
secure financing recourses.
The Central Bank also pointed out that local governments in the
UAE already had substantial shareholdings in local banks so the
situation that had arisen in countries where such shareholdings
formed part of a rescue package did not occur in the UAE.
 E CO N O M I C D E V E LO PM E N T 85

international markets, linked to the global slowdown, made borrowing

more difficult for local banks. Meanwhile, the Dubai government
issued new regulations requiring property buyers to have paid at least
30 per cent of the price of a property before they can sell it.
In September and October 2008 the Ministry of Finance set the
terms for two tranches of emergency funding of up to Dh120 billion
that was made available to local banks to enable them to tide over the
inter-bank liquidity squeeze, but warned them not to use the cash being
made available for speculative activity. The Government funding was
provided on the basis of interest payable every three months
calculated on the prevailing interest rate for five-year US Treasury
bonds, plus 120 basis points or 4 per cent, whichever is higher. In December 2008, the
The move was targeted at underpinning the stability of the UAE’s UAE Central Bank set up
financial model and banks were required to use the money to a task force, the Financial
participate in the inter-bank loan market and ensure credit facilities
Stability Unit, to‘keep an
were available to small and medium enterprises at reasonable cost.
eye’on potential threats
Banks were also told to invest in their risk management practices to
to the UAE’s financial
ensure they meet the requirements of the Central Bank.
On 13 October 2008 the UAE Cabinet made a momentous decision system. Proposals on the
to guarantee banking deposits held in the UAE for three years. The table include the
decision covered national banks and foreign banks that ‘have introduction of‘financial
significant operations in the UAE’. Despite such measures, the global vehicles’to underpin real
financial roller-coaster placed considerable pressures on UAE markets. estate loans.

FOREIGN INVESTMENT

OUTWARD INVESTMENT
Overseas investments have been a critical component of the UAE’s
economic development strategy for decades as the country has
consistently made an effort to diversify where and how it invests its
financial assets. The UAE Government regards such investment as a
security net for future generations who will one day face a depletion
of the country’s energy resources. During the period of review
(2007–2008) there was intense discussion amid global financial and
political circles regarding the impact of SWFs or sovereign wealth
funds. Readers of this Yearbook may already be familiar with the
difficulties that followed Dubai Ports Authority’s purchase of P&O

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Line, leading to it being pressured to sell the US ports management
division that formed part of the original deal. This, along with other
major international investments by SWFs, led to a series of meetings
aimed at calming political nerves and strengthening economic bonds
between SWF investors and the countries where they invest.
But, despite the alarmist views of some reactionary commentators,
SWFs play a very valuable role in maintaining stability in world
markets. Their strategic investments, creating modest and passive
holdings that tend to be held for significant periods, contrast sharply
with many of the disruptive and exploitative computer trading
mechanisms that have helped to create turmoil in world markets.
Abu Dhabi alone has at least eight such SWFs and is a major
investor on the international stage with several investments attracting
international attention. In response to re-emerging concerns about
SWFs, in the USA in particular, the director of international affairs
in the Diwan of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, Yousef Al Otaiba,
subsequently appointed as UAE Ambassador to the United States,
wrote an open letter to the US treasury secretary and other Western
financial officials, in which he stated: ‘It is important to be absolutely
clear that the Abu Dhabi Government has never and will never use
its investment organisations or individual investments as a foreign
policy tool.’
 E CO N O M I C D E V E LO PM E N T 87

The debate that followed led to establishment of a working group at

the IMF in order to create a set of voluntary principles for sovereign
wealth funds. In late April 2008, representatives of ADIA and 24 other
SWFs met at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) headquarters in
Washington, D.C. and formally established an International Working
Group (IWG), co-chaired by senior representatives from ADIA and
the IMF. The objective of the IWG was to arrive at a common set of
voluntary principles for SWFs that properly reflects their investment
practices and objectives.

The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD)

The oldest of Abu Dhabi’s government funds was launched in 1971
and manages approximately Dh4 billion in assets. ADFD is essentially
part of Abu Dhabi’s international aid programme and is covered in
more detail within the Foreign Affairs section of this book. It gives
grants and loans to small projects in developing countries that promote
poverty reduction, social equality or sustainable growth. It also makes
direct equity investments and has so far invested in 52 countries in
Africa, the Middle East, central and south Asia.

Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA)

ADIA’s mission is to secure and maintain the current and future Established in 1976,
prosperity of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi through prudent management ADIA’s mission as a
of the emirate’s investment assets. Established in 1976, ADIA is a premier global
premier global institutional investor, and for the past 32 years the institutional investor is
institution has built a strong reputation across global financial markets to secure and maintain
as a trusted and responsible investor and a leading provider of capital.
the current and future
Over 1100 people and 40 different nationalities work in ADIA’s
prosperity of the
head office on Abu Dhabi’s Corniche. ADIA manages a substantial
Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
global diversified portfolio of holdings across different sectors, regions
and asset classes, including public listed equities, fixed income, real
estate, and private equity. With a long tradition of prudent investing,
ADIA’s decisions are based on its economic objectives of delivering
sustained long-term financial returns and it does not seek active
management of the companies it invests in.
ADIA has been active for many years. Included among its more
prominent early investments were a 9 per cent stake in Reuters in
1984 and a 5 per cent stake in the French oil company Total in 1987.
In 2008, ADIA made an investment in Citigroup.

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88 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

Abu Dhabi Investment Company (ADIC)

ADIC is one of the leading financial services firms in the region.
Established in 1977, ADIC is involved with providing treasury services,
loan syndication, equity and debt underwriting, financial advice, asset
management and brokerage across a range of asset classes, industries
and regions.
ADIC leverages its investment expertise across four strategic areas:
asset management, private equity, infrastructure and real estate. It
offers targeted products and services designed to meet specific client
requirements. In 2007 ADIC celebrated its thirtieth anniversary and
was issued with a new mandate, i.e. to use its decades of experience,
knowledge and relationships to move from primarily proprietary
investing to primarily managing third-party investments. One of its
first moves in this area was launch of its first multi-strategy hedge
fund. In 2008 it created a joint venture with UBS to create funds
investing in infrastructure in the Middle East and North Africa.

International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC)

The UAE is taking its The UAE is a country with a hard-earned experience of finding,
hard-earned experience developing, marketing and transporting oil and gas. It is taking this
of finding, developing, experience to overseas locations where a combination of investment
marketing and and expertise has helped to bring added value to existing natural
transporting oil and gas resource projects. It is a long-term strategy that has worked well in
to overseas locations the past and in which the main proponents have reasserted their
where a combination of belief for future activities.
investment and IPIC, which was established in 1984, is wholly owned by the Abu
expertise has helped Dhabi government. The company is run by an independent board
to bring added value of directors, whose Chairman is HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al
to existing natural Nahyan. IPIC has been established to invest in the hydrocarbons and
resource projects. related sectors outside of Abu Dhabi. This broad investment mandate
includes the crude oil downstream sector, petrochemicals, oil, product
and gas pipelines, the oil services sector, the hydrocarbons shipping
sector, the hydrocarbon-based power sector, and other hydrocarbon-
intensive process industries, including nitrogenous fertilisers and
aluminium smelting.
IPIC’s 80 employees oversee a substantial and diversified portfolio of
petroleum assets that includes exploration and production rights in
11 countries and an estimated US$1.35 billion from the downstream
sector, including six refineries. IPIC does not participate in the day-to-
 E CO N O M I C D E V E LO PM E N T 89

day management of companies it invests in, except in exceptional

circumstances. Though it has 65 to 70 per cent controlling shares in
its largest investments (Borealis OMV and Hyundai Oilbank), it
typically targets a significant minority equity participation level of
25 to 40 per cent, accompanied by appropriate minority shareholder
protections. Meanwhile, one of its longest standing investments is its
9.5 per cent shareholding in Spain’s Cepsa.
Buoyed by a 28 per cent surge in its net earnings in 2007, IPIC
stepped up its investment drive with plans to set up multi-billion
dollar refineries and other projects. They include the construction of a
major refinery in Fujairah and two refineries in Morocco and Pakistan.
The company was expected to invest between Dh22 billion and
Dh37 billion in the Fujairah refinery
One of its strategic investments has been the Abu Dhabi crude oil
pipeline (ADCOP). When completed, this will pipe crude from Abu
Dhabi’s port at Habshan across 370 kilometres of desert and mountain
terrain to the east coast port of Fujairah, enabling Abu Dhabi’s oil
exports to bypass the Straits of Hormuz, a chokepoint of the global
oil trade.
In August 2008 IPIC and Borealis signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with Uzbekistan’s State Joint-Stock Company
(Uzkimyosanoat) to conduct a feasibility study for the construction of
a world-scale fertiliser complex in Uzbekistan. Borealis is Europe’s
second largest manufacturer of plastics, and IPIC owns 65 per cent of
the company. Scheduled to start up in 2012, the new plant will be the
largest fertiliser complex in Central Asia and will include ammonia and
urea production units.
IPIC acquired a majority share in Aabar Petroleum Investments
on 16 September 2008 and also created, on 10 September 2008, a
US$1 billion investment fund, the Falah Fund, in conjunction with
Kazakhstan.
Taqa’s net profits
Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa)
amounted to Dh1.6
Taqa was founded in 2005 with the objective of becoming a global
billion in the first nine
leader in the energy sector. Today, it has a workforce of 2800 drawn
from 38 nationalities working in nine markets across the world, months of 2008
from India to Canada and Abu Dhabi to the United Kingdom. compared with Dh381
Taqa’s business is spread across the global energy sector and the million in the same
company is fully integrated with operations from wellhead to wall period in 2007.

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90 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

socket. It has interests in power generation, desalination, upstream oil

and gas, pipelines, services and structured finance.
Taqa is incorporated as a public joint stock company, 51 per cent of
which is owned by Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (Adwea)
and is listed on the Abu Dhabi stock exchange with a combined total
of over Dh68 billion in assets and revenues in excess of Dh8.3 billion
annually. Taqa owns six businesses in the UAE that between them
produce nearly 7500 MW of power and 600 million imperial gallons of
desalinated water a day. The operations are spread throughout the
UAE, although the majority are based in Abu Dhabi.
The company has also made substantial investments in the energy
field internationally. It has invested US$200 million into the Carlyle
Infrastructure Fund, bought US$550 million worth of Talisman Energy’s
North Sea oilfields, and paid another US$694 million for BP’s Dutch
exploration and production subsidiary, BP Nederland, now called
Taqa Energy. Taqa also paid US$900 million for the African, Middle
Eastern and South Asian assets of CMS Energy and ABB, has
invested US$2 billion in Canada’s Northrock Resources, owner of one
of Canada’s ten largest natural gas reserves, paid US$540 million
for the oil driller, Pioneer Canada, and US$5 billion for the Canadian
oil and gas producer, PrimeWest Energy Trust.

Mubadala Development Company

Mubadala’s focus is on Mubadala, with headquarters in Abu Dhabi, is a public joint stock
developing and company whose sole shareholder is the Abu Dhabi government.
managing an extensive Mubadala’s focus is on developing and managing an extensive and
and economically economically diverse portfolio of commercial initiatives, operating
diverse portfolio of either independently or in partnership with leading international
commercial initiatives, organisations. Mubadala’s commercial strategy is built on long-term,
operating either capital-intensive investments delivering strong financial returns.
independently or in The company manages a multi-billion dollar portfolio of local,
partnership with leading regional, and international investments, projects and initiatives.
international Through its investment and development projects, Mubadala is both a
organisations. catalyst for, and a reflection of, the Abu Dhabi’s drive for economic
diversification. Its impact is evident domestically and internationally in
sectors such as energy, aerospace, real estate, health care, education,
technology, infrastructure, and services.
With approximately US$10 billion under management, recent
investments include an 8.1 per cent stake in computer chip maker,
 E CO N O M I C D E V E LO PM E N T 91

AMD, for US$622 million in 2007, a US$1.35 billion payment for a

7.5 per cent stake in private equity giant Carlyle Group and a
commitment of US$500 million to a Carlyle investment fund.
Unlike ADIA, Mubadala may take controlling interests in companies
in which it invests. In addition to its growing list of international
investments, Mubadala is a strong force in local projects such as port
operator, Abu Dhabi Terminals, the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company,
the company behind the clean-energy Masdar Initiative, Yahsat satellite In mid-2008 General
company, and a planned resort with MGM Mirage. It also owns 51 per Electric and Mubadala
cent of Dolphin Energy, which pipes natural gas to Abu Dhabi from entered into a
Qatar; and 50 per cent of Emirates Aluminium, which is building what framework agreement
is expected to become the world’s largest aluminium smelter in Al on a global partnership
Taweelah. Mubadala also became a significant oil producer in early
encompassing a broad
2008 with the purchase of the Pearl Energy subsidiary of Aabar
range of initiatives
Petroleum Investments, itself later taken over by IPIC. Pearl has
including clean energy
extensive production and exploration interests in several South-East
Asian countries. research and
In mid-2008 General Electric Company (GE) and Mubadala entered development, aviation,
into a framework agreement on a global partnership encompassing a industry and corporate
broad range of initiatives including commercial finance, clean energy learning.
research and development, aviation, industry and corporate learning.
The agreement provides for shared capital commitments to new joint
ventures and investment funds. The expectation was that Mubadala

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92 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
Dubai International
Capital, while focused on
the private equity asset
class, operates through
three divisions: global
buy-outs, MENA
investments, and equity
investments in large
publicly quoted
companies
will become one of GE’s top ten institutional investors and that
investments under the cooperation arrangement will begin in Q1 2009.
Mubadala has been awarded AAA-long-term credit ratings by three
global ratings agencies.
Abu Dhabi Investment Council (ADIC)
ADIC is responsible for investing part of Abu Dhabi government’s
surplus financial resources. The council employs a globally diversified
investment strategy targeting positive capital returns to accumulate
an expansive portfolio comprising highly diversified asset classes and
active investment management strategies.
Abu Dhabi Retirement Pensions & Benefits Fund (ADRPBF)
ADRPBF manages funds allocated as retirement pensions and end-
of-service benefits for UAE nationals employed by the Abu Dhabi
government, or by any other organisation that is registered with the
fund. The fund collects pension contributions from employees and
employers, whilst the Abu Dhabi government also makes substantial
contributions to the fund. Contributions are then managed by the
fund, and converted into stable and secure investments for the future.
The Investment Corporation of Dubai
This body invests in order to create further diversification and long-
term stability. It owns 60 per cent of Borse Dubai, a holding company
which in turn acts as holding company for Dubai Financial Market
and NASDAQ Dubai.
Dubai Holdings
Dubai Holdings is one of Dubai’s major investment vehicles. It is
divided into a number of subsidiaries, including Dubai International
Capital and Dubai Group.
Dubai International Capital (DIC)
Established in October 2004 as the international investment arm of
Dubai Holding, DIC, while focused on the private equity asset class,
operates through three divisions: firstly global buy-outs specialising
in secondary LBOs, primarily in Europe, but also in North America
and Asia; secondly MENA investments including LBOs, funds and
co-investments, infrastructure, growth and development capital; and
thirdly equity investments in publicly quoted companies large class
 E CO N O M I C D E V E LO PM E N T 93

companies such as HSBC Holdings Plc; EADS (Europe’s largest aircraft

and defence manufacturer and Airbus parent company); and Sony,
in which it acquired a 3 per cent stake for US$1.5 billion.
DIC had assets under management totalling more than US$12 billion
in 2008 and is aiming to double this figure by 2010. The company’s key
objectives are to achieve above average risk-adjusted returns on its
investments in both established and developing private equity markets
and to help diversify Dubai Holding’s portfolio, thus acting as a catalyst
for economic growth.

Dubai Group
Dubai Group is the diversified financial services company of Dubai Dubai Group is the
Holdings, focusing on banking and insurance investment both leading diversified
regionally and globally. Dubai Group plays a pivotal role in the financial services
realisation of the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015, which is a road map to company of Dubai
steer the emirate to the next level of development. Dubai Group was Holdings, focusing on
first created in 2000 under the name The Investment Office but was banking and insurance
renamed Dubai Investment Group in 2004 and then again, in January
investment both
2007, when it was restructured and re-branded as Dubai Group.
regionally and globally.
The ever-expanding portfolio of Dubai Group currently includes a
Each of its six companies
diverse collection of six companies, each of which has a specific
has a specific sector and
sector and geographic area of operation as its focal point; i.e. Dubai
Investment Group; Dubai Capital Group; Dubai Financial Group; Dubai geographic area of
Banking Group; Dubai Insurance Group and Noor Investment Group. operation.
Through its subsidiaries and affiliates, Dubai Group has business
interests in 26 countries, with 1000 branches employing 16,000
individuals and serving over four million customers around the world.

Dubai World
Dubai World is a prominent and active contributor to Dubai’s global
investment programme. As a holding company it operates in a
highly diversified spectrum of industrial segments and plays a major
role in the emirate’s rapid economic growth. Its investments span four
strategic growth areas, i.e. transport and logistics, drydocks and
maritime, urban development, and investment and financial services.
Its portfolio comprises some of the world’s best-known companies
and a number of outstanding projects. These include DP World, one
of the largest marine terminal operators in the world; Drydocks
World and Dubai Maritime City, designed to turn Dubai into a major

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94 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

shipbuilding and maritime hub; Economic Zones World (EZW), which

operates several free zones around the world, including Jafza and
TechnoPark in Dubai; Nakheel the property developer behind iconic
projects such as The Palm Islands and The World among others;
Limitless the international real estate master planner with current
development projects in various parts of the world; Leisurecorp a
global sports and leisure investment group that is reshaping the
industry; Dubai World Africa, which oversees a portfolio of investments
in the African continent; and Istithmar World, the group’s investment
arm that has a global footprint in finance, capital, leisure, aviation
and various other business ventures.
In mid-2008 Dubai World purchased Wal-Mart-owned property
developer Gazeley Ltd as part of the global expansion of its subsidiary
EZW. Gazeley built Wal-Mart’s distribution warehouses in Britain and
China and is helping the world’s biggest retailer with its expansion
into India and Latin America. Meanwhile, Limitless LLC was linked
to a takeover of London office developer Minerva, while Leisurecorp
bought the Scottish golf resort of Turnberry. Dubai World’s other
recent international projects include the London Gateway Terminal,
V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa and Vancouver Terminal.
Istithmar World and Nakheel bought a 20 per cent stake in Cirque
du Soleil, the world’s leading live entertainment company and Nakheel
and Cirque du Soleil announced a 15-year partnership in May 2007
to develop a permanent show on Palm Jumeirah.

Tatweer
Tatweer’s portfolio Launched in December 2005, Tatweer is the strategic and operational
comprises energy and driver of a selected group of Dubai Holding entities that will develop
health care, tourism new markets to serve the development of Dubai. Its portfolio is
and entertainment, divided into energy and health care, tourism and entertainment,
industry, knowledge industry, knowledge and real estate. Tatweer has been a key
and real estate. contributor to Dubai’s transformational growth, providing energy to
industries, moulding ultra-luxurious enclaves from barren desert,
and creating world-class facilities that enhance living standards.
Market-leading entities include The Tiger Woods Dubai, DreamWorks,
Dubailand, Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai Energy, Universal Studios,
Bawadi, Global Village, Dubai Industrial City, Mizin, Tatweer Lammtara
Joint Venture and the Dubai Mercantile Exchange (DME).
The Burj al-Arab, the first and arguably the most
famous iconic building in Dubai, is a symbol of
Dubai’s transformation in recent years.
96 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
Etisalat is now the
sixteenth largest
telecommunications
firm in the world, and
the corporation aims to
be among the top ten in
the world by 2010.
Etisalat is also ranked at
two hundred and
nineteenth place in the
2008 Global 500
Financial Times list.
In August 2008 DME concluded the sale of equity stakes in the
exchange to a number of leading global financial institutions and
energy trading firms, including, among others, Goldman Sachs and
Morgan Stanley.
Meanwhile, Dubai Industrial City (DI) launched its headquarters in
July 2008, creating a one-stop customer service centre offering ten UAE
government departments’ transactions under one roof. The centre is
the largest facility of its kind in the country.
Other International Investments
Etisalat, the Abu Dhabi-based telecommunications giant, has continued
to be very active on the international front. In 2007 it invested in
projects in Nigeria and Indonesia, locations with large populations and
relatively low telecom penetration. Meanwhile, its Mobily network
reaches 93.7 per cent of the population in the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia and Mobily had over 11 million subscribers there by the end
of December 2007, a growth of over 60 per cent in comparison to
2006. In terms of revenue, Mobily grew by 44 per cent year on year,
with net profit growing by 97 per cent. The company already has
major investments in mobile networks in Afghanistan, Egypt,
Pakistan and Singapore. Thuraya, the Etisalat majority-owned satellite
telecommunications corporation also continues to invest in global
expansion of its services (see section on Telecommunications).
Etisalat is now the sixteenth largest telecommunications firm in
the world, and the corporation aims to be among the top ten in the
world by 2010. Etisalat is also ranked at two hundred and nineteenth
place in the 2008 Global 500 Financial Times list of leading companies
in the world, by market capitalisation, having risen in the list from
four hundred and forty-fourth place in 2007. Indeed Global Mobile, a
newsletter published by Informa Telecoms & Media, ranked Etisalat as
the fastest growing telecommunications company in the world
according to proportionate subscription growth during the first quarter
of 2008, based on their percentage ownership of mobile operators.
In recognition of its outstanding record, Etisalat received Superbrand
status in 2008 from the Superbrand Council, the independent body
that honours branding excellence in various sectors across the world.
INWARD INVESTMENT
Although, for the UAE, FDI is the highest in the region at around
US$19 billion, the government has been active in its efforts to improve
 E CO N O M I C D E V E LO PM E N T 97

conditions to meet with the aspirations of international, regional,

and local investors. Among key incentives to investors is the very
favourable tax environment especially in the free zones where in most
cases there are no corporate and income taxes. It helps that the UAE
per capita income is one of the highest in the region. Coupled with
this, its population growth rate is among the highest worldwide.
These factors create a ‘virtuous cycle’: i.e. a market with very high, and
rapidly growing, purchasing power, which attracts further FDI.
A survey of more than 800 foreign companies in the UAE, conducted
by the Ministry of Economy (MoE) in 2008, investigated conditions
for FDI. It identified a range of pluses and minuses in terms of the
country’s FDI attractiveness. Among major attractions were the
UAE’s political stability, its excellent access to regional markets, its
favourable geographical position and the convenience of access to
world markets. Among significant negative factors were rising
operating costs, fuel prices and tough foreign competition. However,
smooth investment procedures, sufficient space for activity, strategic
assets, high market value of shares, low cost of finance, and
appropriate commercial values of investments bolstered the argument
for investing in UAE based companies.
The value of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Abu Dhabi was
predicted to reach Dh27 billion (US$7.35 billion) in 2008 compared
to Dh17 billion (US$4.63 billion) in 2007. Abu Dhabi’s share of
foreign investment in the UAE as a whole is relatively low at around
24 per cent of total foreign investment in the UAE, contrasting with
its 58 per cent contribution to GDP. The primary aim of attracting FDI
is not so much to do with money but more to do with expertise,
technology and experience, contributing to the improved production
methods and enhanced infrastructure. Among measures being
considered by the Abu Dhabi government were plans to pass
legislation revising ownership rights for foreign investors, allowing
up to 100 per cent in many sectors. UAE trade in 2007
totalled Dh1.01 trillion,
accounting for 22.2 per
TRADE cent of all Arab trade,
The UAE was the second largest trading nation in the Arab world in despite the fact that the
2007. Trade for the year totalled Dh1.01 trillion (US$275.1 billion) in UAE population is only
2007, accounting for 22.2 per cent of the total Arab commercial 1.4 per cent of the total
exchange of US$1.234 trillion, despite the fact that its population Arab population.

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98 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

accounts for just 1.4 per cent of the total Arab population. Economists
attributed the surge in trade to an increase in crude oil and gas
exports, higher non-oil exports by free zones and other areas, and a
sharp rise in imports as a result of strong domestic demand and a
steady increase in re-export.
Trade figures Trade figures throughout the UAE showed impressive increases.
throughout the UAE For example, Dubai’s non-oil direct foreign trade jumped by 54.3
continued to show per cent during the first half of 2008, reaching Dh296.6 billion
impressive increases in (around US$80.8 billion), compared to Dh192.2 billion (US$52.3
2008. At the same time, billion) achieved during the same period in 2007. India topped the
the UAE is negotiating list of Dubai’s main trading partners, followed by China, and in third
eight free trade place, the USA. India was also the UAE’s largest exports destination in
agreements with key the first half of 2008, with Switzerland making a sudden leap from
economic blocs that fifty-fourth to second place. Dubai’s bilateral trade with Switzerland
will significantly grew from Dh24.7 million to Dh1.5 billion! In terms of Dubai’s re-
impact trade. export trading during first half of 2008, India was the top partner
with Iran in second place, while Switzerland came third.
The UAE is negotiating eight FTAs with key economic blocs that
will significantly impact trade. Whilst the potential benefits of such
agreements are clear, final deals have proven to be somewhat elusive.
Agreements with the European Union and the US are particularly
important for exports, economic diversification and attracting foreign
investment into the region.

CUSTOMS LAW AND REGULATIONS

The UAE’s Unified Customs Law is expected to come into force by
the end of 2009. The Federal Customs Authority (FCA) will oversee
standardising of all the UAE’s customs tariffs and regulations and
will issue a unified executive list that is binding for the entire UAE.
Steps are being taken to complete the process as soon as possible,
especially in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, which together account
for 95 per cent of the UAE’s customs transactions. The FCA completed
an electronic link between the different customs departments and set
up information and intelligence units in all customs departments to
intensify the fight against counterfeit goods and drugs.
Among the functions of these customs regulations is the prevention
of trade in fake goods. A special section equipped with modern
technology to effectively track shipments has been set up by Dubai
Customs. In the first five months of 2008, Dubai Customs destroyed
 E CO N O M I C D E V E LO PM E N T 99

293 tons of counterfeit, smuggled and illegal products. These were According to figures
destroyed in coordination with other governmental bodies. Such released by the Ministry
actions are likely to become more frequent through implementation of Finance and Industry
of the unified GCC customs law, which gives customs authorities the in the latter half of 2008,
full right to seize and destroy illegal goods. the total cumulative
Goods imported into the United Arab Emirates from countries industrial capital value
with most favoured nations (MFN) status are subject to the GCC
of all non-oil and gas
Common External Tariff (CET), which averaged around 5 per cent in
industrial projects in
2007. Over 400 basic food items and pharmaceuticals are duty free.
the UAE now exceeds
Tobacco products, on the other hand, attract up to a 100 per cent tax
rate, depending on the item. US$20 billion, creating
With the exception of oil, gas and petrochemicals, the primary 290,000 jobs.
export centres in the UAE are free zones that provide logistical,
administrative and financial advantages for exporting or re-exporting
companies. These free zones are exempt from the licensing, agency,
emiratisation, and national majority-ownership obligations that apply
in the domestic economy. There are many success stories among
the companies operating from the UAE’s free zones, with major
enterprises using the UAE as a base to compete efficiently in the
international market place.

INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
The cumulative industrial capital of the country at the beginning
of 2008 was around Dh72 billion, with Dh38.9 billion of that
total accounted for by Abu Dhabi; Dh17.1 billion by Dubai; Dh6.4
billion by Fujairah; Dh4.03 billion by Sharjah; Dh4.2 billion by Ra’s
al-Khaimah; Dh1.49 billion by Ajman; and Dh483 million by Umm
al-Qaiwain.
By early 2008 almost 44 per cent (i.e. around Dh32.1 billion) of the
total manufacturing capital of the UAE was in food, beverages and
tobacco. Other sectors in order of size were chemicals, mineral
products, metal products, equipment, paper products, textiles and
garments, and wood products. Abu Dhabi’s industrial base is dominated
by a few large-scale projects, in contrast to some other emirates where
there are many smaller enterprises.
In addition to contributing to economic diversification programmes,
industrial projects created a large number of jobs, standing at

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100 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
The last few years
have been a time of
considerable innovation
and adjustment in the
UAE’s industrial profile,
with an increased focus
on high technology and
knowledge-based
industries.
288,180 at the end of 2007. Mineral products emerged as the
largest job provider, employing nearly 54,000 people; followed by
chemical projects with nearly 36,800 employees, textile and garments
with 31,700 and food and beverage with 29,130.
The last few years have been a time of considerable innovation
and adjustment in the UAE’s industrial profile. There has been an
increased focus on high technology and knowledge-based industries,
opening up new frontiers in terms of the country’s economic profile.
Who would have thought, a few years ago, that the UAE would
emerge as a centre for alternative energy research and development, a
favoured location for movie production, or an aircraft manufacturer?
These are just a few of the industries that are taking a hold in
twenty-first century UAE.
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY
Mubadala has been a leading UAE investor in the aviation industry,
with companies such as Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies, Gulf Aircraft
Maintenance Company (Gamco) and Horizon International Flight
Academy in its stable. It is creating a new global aerospace industry
for Abu Dhabi – focused on an integrated approach, including
manufacturing, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO). Mubadala’s
purchase of a 35 per cent stake in Piaggio Aero Industries in 2006
opened the way for aircraft to be manufactured within the UAE.
Another recent venture is Abu Dhabi UAV Investments (AD UAVI),
which is 95 per cent owned by Mubadala, and specialises in design
and manufacture of unmanned aerial vehicle systems. Mubadala
also owns 40 per cent of SR Technics, an independent provider of
technical services in the aircraft, component and engine areas. Other
partners are Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) and Istithmar.
DAE, whose shareholders include Emaar, Istithmar, Dubai Airport
Free Zone Authority, Dubai International Capital, Dubai International
Financial Centre, the Dubai government and Amlak Finance, has
been establishing a global aerospace manufacturing and services
corporation based in Dubai. It has established subsidiaries in six key
sectors: research and development, manufacturing, maintenance,
repair and overhaul, aircraft leasing and aerospace services. The
group is forming international partnerships at the highest level of
industry with the aim of establishing one of the most innovative and
successful businesses in the global aerospace industry inside the
 E CO N O M I C D E V E LO PM E N T 101

next decade. DAE is expected to grow through a series of phased

developments to produce an integrated aerospace cluster, located
at Dubai World Central – the huge urban aviation project being
constructed near Jebel Ali.
With both Abu Dhabi and Dubai developing their aerospace
capabilities, the aviation industry is seen as an important plank in
the country’s industrial diversification.

AVIATION
Emirates Airline
There can be no disguising Emirates’ impressive expansion plans,
which are vividly illustrated by the fact that, in autumn 2008, it had
244 new aircraft on order, with a total value of approximately US$60
billion! In the financial year ending March 2008, Emirates recorded
an impressive 54 per cent increase in group net profit amounting to
Dh5.3 billion (US$1.45 billion), following an increase of 23.5 per cent
in 2006. Airline profits were a record Dh5 billion (US$1.36 billion),
up from Dh3.1 billion (US$844 million) a year earlier, an increase of
over 62 per cent. These results were achieved despite continuing Thomas Enders, Chief
Executive of Airbus, and
high oil prices.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Said Al
With a fleet of 113 aircraft, Emirates flies to over 100 destinations Maktoum, Chief Executive of
in 62 countries around the world, and its network is expanding Emirates, sign contracts
constantly. Nearly 800 Emirates flights depart Dubai each week on following the delivery of
Emirates’first Airbus A380.
their way to destinations on six continents. In fact, Emirates‘ flights
account for nearly 40 per cent of all flight movements in and out of
Dubai International Airport, and the airline aims to increase this
market-share to 70 per cent by 2010.
At the Dubai Airshow in November 2007, Emirates announced a
historic civil aviation aircraft order when it signed contracts for 120
Airbus A350s, 11 A380s, and 12 Boeing 777-300ERs, worth an
estimated US$34.9 billion in list prices. The agreement with Airbus
comprises firm orders for 50 A350-900s and 20 A350-1000s, plus
50 options for the A350-900s. The first A350 will be delivered to
Emirates in 2014. The company also firmed up orders on the eight
A380s for which it had signed letters of intent earlier in 2008, and
placed firm orders for an additional three of the double-decker aircraft,
bringing its total firm order for the A380s to 58. With the new order for
12 777-300ERs, valued at US$3.2 billion, by mid-2008 Emirates had
57 Boeing 777s pending delivery and remained set to become the

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102 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
There is no doubt that
the A380 is a bold step
forward in aviation
history and the UAE’s
major airlines are proud
to be playing a
significant role in the
process.
A380 AIRCRAFT AND UAE AIRLINES
One of the biggest stories in the
aviation world during 2007–2008
was the introduction of the first
Airbus 380 super-jumbo aircraft.
Both Emirates and Etihad have
placed orders for the unique
aircraft that offers both comfort
and fuel efficiencies for long-
haul flights.
Emirates, which had placed the
largest order for the 380, made
its first commercial flight with it
on 1 August 2008 when it flew
from Dubai to New York’s John F.
Kennedy International Airport. The huge aircraft, carrying 489 passengers
in varying degrees of luxury, landed smoothly and on time after a
thirteen and a half hour flight from the UAE.
The impressive plane is fitted out with lie-flat beds, flat-screen
televisions and spacious, windowed bathrooms in first and business class.
With a list price of US$327 million, the A380 has a number of key
advantages, from its fuel-efficient engines to its load capacity, which
will reduce the number of aircraft required to fly certain routes. It uses
up to 20 per cent less fuel per seat than a Boeing 747, and when fully
loaded and flying long distances it is reported to be more fuel efficient,
per passenger, than a small family car.
Emirates, presently the world’s seventh largest airline in terms of
international passengers, is the biggest buyer of A380s, with 58 on order.
In addition to New York, it plans to deploy the plane on London, Sydney
and Auckland routes. Both Emirates and Etihad expect the new planes
will strengthen the UAE’s position as an aviation hub. Etihad has four
A380s on order and, like all other purchasers of the European-made plane,
it is in a delivery queue that has been affected by a number of delays.
There is no doubt that the A380 is a bold step forward in aviation
history and the UAE’s major airlines are proud to be playing a significant
role in the process.
Emirates airline profits were a record
Dh5 billion (US$1.36 billion) for the
financial year ending March 2008, up
from Dh3.1 billion (US$844 million) a
year earlier.
 world’s largest 777 operator in the next few years. The second A380
aircraft for Emirates longhaul fleet was delivered in late October 2008.

Etihad Airways
Etihad, the national airline of the UAE, made its first flight on
5 November 2003 and is now recognised as one of the fastest-growing
national airlines in the history of aviation. Like Emirates, Etihad
operates one of the youngest and most environmentally efficient
fleets in the world. This reached 45 aircraft by the end of 2008 and
there are plans to boost this figure in the near future.
In July 2008, Etihad Etihad began life with the largest-ever start-up fleet order, announced
announced a record- at the 2004 Farnborough Air Show, for 29 Airbus and Boeing aircraft
breaking order at with a total value of US$8 billion. In July 2008, Etihad placed an order
Farnborough Airshow for up to 205 wide-body and narrow-body planes worth approximately
for up to 205 aircraft, US$43 billion, one of the largest in commercial aviation history. This
including firm orders breaks down to 100 firm orders, 55 options and 50 purchase rights in
for 100 aircraft. a combination of Boeing and Airbus aircraft.
Etihad Airways continued to show impressive growth in 2008
with passenger figures for the first nine months indicating a 35 per
cent rise on the same period in 2007. During the period 1 January to
30 September 2008 the airline carried 4.4 million passengers across
its network of (at that time) 48 destinations, compared to 3.3 million
for the same period in the previous year. Seat occupancy averaged 75
per cent. Etihad was clearly on course to exceed its 2008 target of six
million passengers.
 E CO N O M I C D E V E LO PM E N T 105

Etihad’s services to Asia and Australia turned in particularly strong

performances with overall seat factors averaging 82 per cent across
the region. Passenger loads in the economy cabin averaged 84 per
cent, led by Manila (94 per cent), Jakarta (90 per cent), Sydney (87 per
cent) and Bangkok (83 per cent). Within Europe, flights to Dublin,
Brussels, Manchester and Paris all achieved average seat factors of
more than 80 per cent in economy. Middle East routes that performed
well during the first nine months of the year included Amman and
Damascus and both achieved overall average seat factors of 78 per
cent. Cairo remains the airline’s most popular African route, with an
overall seat factor of 80 per cent.
Etihad launched six new destinations in 2008, to Beijing, the
Indian cities of Kozhikode (Calicut) and Chennai (Madras), Minsk in
Belorussia, Almaty in Kazakhstan and to Moscow. Plans for early 2009
include adding routes to Melbourne and Lagos.
The airline was particularly delighted to have been voted the
‘Middle East’s Leading Airline’ at the 2008 Middle East World Travel
Awards. In addition Etihad scooped the ‘Middle East’s Leading First Etihad in five years has
Class’, along with the ‘Middle East’s Leading Airline Website’ awards flown nearly 14 million
(www.etihadairways.com). passengers on more
than 87,000 flights to 48
Other Airlines
destinations across the
Air Arabia’s financial results for the period ending 30 June 2008,
Middle East, Africa,
demonstrated a net profit for the first half of 2008 of Dh160 million,
Australia, Asia, Europe,
an increase of 39 per cent compared to Dh115 million for the first six
and North America.
months of 2007. Listed as a public joint stock company on the Dubai
Financial Market, Air Arabia is the Middle East and North Africa’s
leading low-cost carrier (LCC). It commenced operations in October
2003 and operates a fleet of new Airbus A320 aircraft, serving a wide
range of destinations across the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, CIS,
South and Central Asia. Its main base is Sharjah International Airport
and its vision is to be one of the world’s leading budget airlines. It
recently announced plans to launch a hub in Morocco with a dedicated
fleet of A320s.
Passenger traffic on Air Arabia reached 1.6 million passengers
during the first half of 2008, a 33 per cent increase compared to 1.2
million passengers during the same period in 2007. Air Arabia has
won a number of prestigious aviation awards, including the 2008
World Airline Award for ‘Best Low-Cost Airline in the Middle East’ for

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106 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

the second consecutive year, the prestigious gold award in the best
airline category at the MENA Travel Awards 2008 and the award for
Operational Excellence 2005–2007 by Airbus, one of the world’s
leading aircraft manufacturers.
RAK Airways, under the title ‘I Fly You’, operates flights to Calicut
(Kozhikode), Dhaka, Chittagong, Colombo, Beirut, and Sofia. The airline
was established in February 2006 and began operations in November
2007. In 2008 the new airline signed a Dh1.65 billion deal with
Boeing for the purchase of four new-generation 737-800NG aircraft,
making it the first airline in the UAE to buy the Boeing 737-800NG –
a short-to-medium-range jet. It will take delivery of the first two
aircraft in 2011 and the two others in 2012. Until the deliveries of
these aircraft, RAK Airways will continue to operate with its leased
planes, adopting a ‘hub and spoke’ network strategy by attracting
passengers from other countries to Ra’s al-Khaimah and then flying
them to other destinations.
Royal Jet, the international luxury executive flight services company
headquartered in Abu Dhabi, launched a new pricing structure in
2008, based on where the guests commence their flight instead of
where the privately booked aircraft originates its journey. In other
words, if clients are travelling from Jeddah to Beirut, they are only
charged for that part of the journey, and not for the Abu Dhabi to
Jeddah leg that is necessary to position the aircraft. Royal Jet was
recently voted the ‘World’s Leading Private Jet Charter’ and ‘Business
Jet Provider of the Year’.
FlyDubai, due to be launched in mid-2009, is one of the most
recent new additions to the UAE’s aviation business scene. The
company appointed Gaith Al Gaith, a former Emirates Airline executive,
as chief executive officer of FlyDubai in March 2008. FlyDubai plans
to start operations with 12 destinations but eventually aims to build
a network of 70 destinations. The airline ordered 50 Boeing 737-800
aircraft and signed a lease agreement for four similar planes.

ALUMINIUM
Dubai Aluminium Company Limited (Dubal), the world’s seventh
largest producer of high quality primary aluminium, achieved a major
production milestone, having produced its ten millionth cumulative
tonne of hot metal in mid-July 2008. The company, which celebrates
its thirtieth anniversary in 2009, began operating with three pot
 E CO N O M I C D E V E LO PM E N T 107

lines offering an initial production capacity of 135,000 metric tonnes

per year at its inception in 1979. Dubal produced approximately
890,000 tonnes of molten aluminium in 2007, representing a 12.6
per cent increase on the 2006 figures. The company is planning to
produce 970,000 tonnes in 2009. Dubal’s ambitious vision is to
become the world’s fifth largest producer of primary aluminium by
2015, by producing 2.5 million tonnes of the metal per year.
Abu Dhabi-based Emirates Aluminium’s (Emal) extensive production
facility in Taweelah is being built in two phases and is set to become
the world’s fifth largest aluminium producer. Phase one, scheduled for
completion by 2010, will have a production output of approximately It is estimated that by 2020
700,000 tonnes. At full capacity, it will boast an output of 1.4 million the GCC aluminium industry
tonnes of primary aluminium. The company awarded a Dh36 million will provide 20 per cent of
global aluminium production.
contract to Italian manufacturer, Società per Impianti Generali
(SPIG) for the supply of cooling towers at Emal’s power plant. These
innovative structures will reduce the temperature of the water used
during the energy production process and ensure that water is
returned to the sea within a one degree celsius temperature range
(within Abu Dhabi Environmental Agency guidelines which allow up
to a five degree celsius increase).

STEEL
The UAE steel industry has been through very buoyant times with Steel prices surged to
strong market fundamentals supported by large-scale developments Dh6000 a tonne in July
occurring throughout the UAE, all of which require steel in their 2008. A slide that began
construction. Market forces have been impacting on the price of steel in August turned into an
with the 2008 average price over Dh4000 per ton compared with avalanche with falling to
around Dh2500 in 2007. Indeed, figures from Dubai Chamber of
Dh1800 in November.
Commerce and Industry (DCCI) indicated that the price of steel had
increased by as much as 14 times in five years. Massive structures such
as Burj Dubai, the world’s tallest building, consume huge quantities of
steel rebar. Thirty-nine thousand metric tons of steel rebar were
used to construct the building, enough to extend a quarter of the
way around the earth if laid end to end.
The UAE produced 1.7 million tonnes in 2007 and this output is
expected to more than double by 2012. Major players in the UAE steel
industry are Emirates Steel Industries, Al Nasser Industrial Enterprises,
Alam Steel Industry LLC and Qatar Steel Company. In March 2008 the
UAE Government exempted reinforced steel (together with cement)

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108 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
Steel reinforcing bars
doubled in price from
January to July 2008,
then halved, ending the
year in the same range
as at the beginning
of the year.
Indian star Aishwarya Rai with
Jamal Sharif of Dubai Studio City
celebrating the premiere of Rai’s
new movie‘Provoked’in Dubai.
from custom duties. However, steel prices fluctuated throughout the
year, affected almost as much by global prices as local conditions.
The upward spiral in steel prices, surging by 91 per cent from January
to the end of July 2008, halted in August 2008 when prices on the
Abu Dhabi steel market began to decline.
Emirates Steel Industries plant at ICAD-1 in Abu Dhabi is in a
rapid expansionary phase, underlined by the signing of a Dh1billion
contract with Italy’s Danieli Corporation. Once completed, the larger
plant will have a total production capacity of 3 million tonnes p.a. as
against its previous production capacity of 2 million tonnes p.a.
Emirates Steel Industries (ESI), formerly Emirates Iron and Steel
Factory (EISF) is wholly owned by the Abu Dhabi government. The
factory is the largest steel plant in the UAE, utilising the latest rolling
mill technology to produce reinforcing bars for the construction
industry.
Given the continued surge in building activity in the UAE, it is not
surprising that analysts have predicted a dramatic growth in the
country’s steel industry with some experts stating that it is expected
to grow by more than 200 per cent between 2008 and 2012.
FILM INDUSTRY
A somewhat surprising development in the UAE’s industrial sector
has been the emergence of serious plans and projects in the movie-
making business. Dubai has led the way in this with the establishment
of Dubai Studio City, a member of Tecom Investments, as a one-
stop-shop for film-making in Dubai. It invested Dh110 million to
create 18 boutique studios that were opened in 2008 as part of Dubai
Studio City’s phase one development. All the studios were taken up
by regional and international broadcasters. Spread over an area of over
2 million square metres, Dubai Studio City will have 14 sound stages, a
325,000 square metre back lot for outdoor shoots, commercial offices,
pre-built studios, a business centre and post-production studios. The
media cluster’s mission is to provide world-class infrastructure and
services to boost the growth of the film, TV, radio production, post-
production and broadcast industries in the region, helping to shape
UAE nationals and expatriates into award-winning film-makers.
Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi has its own major plans for a film industry
based within its borders. In 2008 Abu Dhabi Media Company (ADMC)
established a film financing subsidiary with plans to spend more than
 E CO N O M I C D E V E LO PM E N T 109

Sheikh Hamdan bin

Mohammed Al Maktoum,
Chairman of Dubai Executive
Council, examines the model
of Universal Studios theme
park, which is being built
in Dubai.

US$1 billion (Dh3.67 billion) developing, financing and producing as

many as 40 feature films over the next five years. The new company,
called ‘imagenation abu dhabi’, is forming joint ventures with
Hollywood and other international producers to create globally
distributed movies and digital content, while also working with Middle
Eastern filmmakers to produce Arabic language and dual-language
films with crossover appeal. The idea behind imagenation is to create
a relationship with the filmmaking community so that skills can be
developed in Abu Dhabi to grow an industry (see chapter on Media
& Culture).
ADMC was also behind the multi-billion dollar deal signed in 2007
with Warner Brothers and Aldar Properties to build a theme park,
hotel complex and chain of movie theatres. That deal also created
two film funds – one dedicated to Arabic-language films, and another
for the development of video games.

INDUSTRIAL ZONES
The policy of clustering businesses and industries in order to achieve
economies of scale and to exploit synergies for the mutual benefit
of enterprises operating with these specialised zones has been
hugely successful in the UAE. The clustering has taken three main
forms, i.e. free zones where businesses united by common interest
factors may enjoy 100 per cent foreign ownership, special tax and

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110 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
The UAE’s free zones
have been one of the
strongest pillars of the
country’s economic
performance, attracting
significant amounts of
foreign investment,
creating thousands of
jobs, and facilitating
technology transfer
into the country.
ICAD-3, the new industrial city
in Abu Dhabi, will feature
Polymers Park, a dedicated
plastic processing zone.
administrative incentives; industrial cities that provide coordinated
services and facilities for similar industries; and finally special zones
that may not offer all the business and tax incentives of free zones but
do create a critical mass that results in the participating establishments
benefiting, either in terms of labour pool and facilities, licensing,
raw materials, manufacturing facilities and expertise; or in terms of
cooperative sales, marketing and distribution strategies.
The UAE free zones have been one of the strongest pillars of the
country’s economic performance, attracting significant amounts of
foreign investment, creating thousands of jobs, and facilitating
technology transfer into the country. The combined output of the
country’s free zones accounts for more than half of its non-oil exports
and underpins the UAE’s ranking as the third most important re-
export centre in the world.
The UAE’s cluster projects have been reviewed in some detail in
previous editions of this Yearbook. In the current edition, we focus on
some of the main developments in this field over the past 12 months.
Abu Dhabi’s Industrial Cities
Abu Dhabi Higher Corporation for Specialised Economic Zones
(ZonesCorp), the Abu Dhabi government authority that establishes
and manages industrial cities for cluster industries, has already
developed three industrial cities in Mussafah. These projects, known
by their acronym ICAD, are referred to as ICAD-1, ICAD-2 and ICAD-3.
ICAD-4 is now under development. The industrial zones are being
established under the Plan Abu Dhabi 2030. ICAD-I and ICAD-2 were
developed from the existing industrial units in Mussafah and then
brought under the management of ZonesCorp, while ICAD-3, which
contains the Polymers Park plastic processing zone, is a new city.
Most of the proposed specialised cluster industry areas in the ICADs
are free of both tax and customs duties. ZonesCorp is also planning to
build residential units for more than 800,000 workers employed in the
industrial cities and surrounding areas, with completion due in 2012.
Western Region Free Zone
Abu Dhabi Customs is commencing work on a Dh500 million free
zone at the Western (Al Gharbia) Region’s border exit of Al Ghweifat.
The free zone is expected to lead to an increase in the number of
individuals and companies transiting through the outlet and will offer a
host of goods free of any custom tariffs.
 E CO N O M I C D E V E LO PM E N T 111

Future Energy Free Zone

Masdar City is establishing a new free zone for the renewable energy
industry. The US$22 billion project will provide an attractive base for
1500 firms involved in innovation, research and development. The
zero carbon footprint city will contain light industries operating within
a number of sub-sectors of renewable energy, including advanced
energy, sustainable transportation, and green efficiencies. This will
create innovation hubs, fostering development of new technologies
and solutions. In addition a commercialisation unit is being deployed
for the application and rapid deployment of these solutions. The free
zone will also host world-class laboratories conducting research and
development in the renewable sector.
The city will help to establish Abu Dhabi as a global centre for ‘future
energy’ activities, providing a platform for collaboration in creating
new energy solutions (see Alternative Energy below)

EnPark
In August 2008, Dubai’s Energy and Environment Park (Enpark)
announced a Sustainable Development Policy, with plans to implement
eco-friendly initiatives. The policy focuses especially on energy and
water conservation. Adopting an inclusive approach to its development,
Enpark plans to work closely with all authorities to enlist their
participation in the project. As a commercial venture, Enpark is
aiming to prove that conducting business in a sustainable manner
will generate long-term benefits for the company as well as the
entire community at large.

Jafza
Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) is one of the largest and fastest growing Jebel Ali Free Zone is
free zones in the world and Dubai’s biggest exporting zone. In 2007 one of the largest and
Dh96.1 billion worth of total exports and re-exports moved through fastest growing free
Dubai’s free zones compared to Dh82.6 billion in 2006. Meanwhile, zones in the world.
Jafza companies contributed 77.60 per cent of Dubai’s non-oil foreign
trade figures in 2007, reaching Dh74.6 billion. The strategic location of
the Jebel Ali Port, construction of Al Maktoum International Airport
and development of Dubai World Central complex are providing a
further boost to Jafza’s development.
Jafza offers business and tax incentives to corporations and serves
Dubai Port, which ranks ninth in the world in terms of container

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112 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

traffic. The free zone also provides warehousing and distribution

facilities to international and local corporations.

Jafza International
Jafza International, the global free zone management and consultancy
arm of Economic Zones World (EZW), opened its North American
office in Charleston, South Carolina in 2008, marking the company’s
entry into the US market. The opening of the headquarters was the
first step in Jafza International’s plan to launch its landmark US$600
million modern logistics and business park in Orangeburg. This
involves transforming 1300 acres of land into a modern logistics and
distribution park that will include light manufacturing, warehousing
and distribution facilities. The ambitious project will generate 8000 to
10,000 jobs in the next decade and become one of the biggest logistics
hubs in the US. Jafza International’s ultimate aim is to establish a
global platform of logistics and business parks.

Dafz
By mid-August 2008 Dubai Airport Free Zone (Dafz) had attracted
more than 1425 companies and it was continuing to attract new
ventures. The location of the free zone, within the boundaries of Dubai
International Airport, is a key benefit to international companies that
need to remain closely connected with international markets.
Dafz is also playing a valuable role for many overseas corporations
in their international tax planning strategy, sharing the tax exemption
enjoyed by companies already established in the zone, while having
the freedom offered by 100 per cent foreign ownership.

Health Industry
The UAE has invested heavily in providing medical and health services
for its citizens and has nurtured the growth of related industries in the
country, from pharmaceuticals to medical equipment, overall wellness
resorts and private hospitals. The scale of these developments, a
number of which are described in the section on Health, has created a
critical mass that is encouraging others to establish related enterprises
in the UAE.
In August 2008 Tatweer announced an investment of Dh3.68 billion
in a New Wellness Resort to be based in phase two of Dubai Healthcare
City (DHCC), also a member of Tatweer. The move brought Tatweer’s
 E CO N O M I C D E V E LO PM E N T 113

investments in DHCC to a total of Dh12.5 billion. DHCC has also

attracted over Dh15 billion of additional investments from its partners.
Situated alongside the Dubai Creek, within DHCC’s Wellness Cluster,
the resort will serve as a premier location for preventative and
integrative medicine, and for promoting health-enhancing lifestyles
in the region.

DuBiotech
The UAE’s well-established pharmaceutical business, led by companies
such as Julphar, Neopharma, Globalpharma, Medpharma and Gulf
Injects, has been joined by ground-breaking biotechnology companies
that are being encouraged to cluster in the Dubai Biotechnology and
Research Park (DuBiotech), a member of Tecom Investments.
The science and business park for life sciences industry, launched in Bridging research,
2005, had 42 companies in mid-2008 with many more in the pipeline. education and industry
The innovative zone is keen to promote clinical research, clinical trials, through national and
and work on genetic development. But activities within the zone are international
not restricted to medical sciences since they encompass the whole collaboration, the
biotechnology industry, including environment and agriculture. The
research park is working
zone has attracted major international companies such as Amgen,
closely with the UAE’s
Genzyme and Pfizer.
regulatory bodies to
In operation for just over three years, the biotech hub has launched
further develop the
a number of significant initiatives such as its subsidiary, BioTiqania
and the Gulf Anti-doping and Monitoring Enterprise (Game). The life sciences industry
free zone views its role as an incubator for scientific research and in the country.
development. BioTiqania is a training institute for scientific and
industrial disciplines. Game is a pioneering laboratory dedicated to
conducting anti-doping measures for professional and amateur
athletes in the UAE.
In 2007 NeoBiocon Ltd, an international joint venture between
an Indian biotechnology giant Biocon Ltd and the Abu Dhabi-based
pharmaceutical manufacturer NeoPharma, established its regional
headquarters at DuBiotech. Bridging research, education and industry
through national and international collaboration, the research park
is working closely with the UAE Ministry of Health, the Dubai Health
Authority, and other regulatory bodies to further develop the life
sciences industry in the country.
DuBiotech’s Dh250 million research laboratory was due to come
into operation in December 2008.

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114 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

Dubai Techno Park

Asia Gulf Horizons Fund Technology Centre was established at Dubai
Techno Park, the Dubai government’s technology initiative. Dubai
Techno Park is managed by DP World whilst the fund is managed by
Korea Technology Investment Corporation (KTIC), a veteran private
equity management company based in Seoul, South Korea. It is
expected that locating the Dh1.1 trillion (US$300 million) fund in
Dubai Techno Park will result in approximately ten to 15 Asian and
European technology companies establishing research, development
and commercial operations in Dubai in the next two years. These
companies will focus on environmental and telecommunications
technology, energy, water and infrastructure, and are considered
essential to Dubai’s long-term technology development plan.
Ra’s al-Khaimah Free Zone
Ras Al Khaimah Free Zone continued its growth as more companies
discover the attractions of locating within this northern emirate.
Eight hundred and forty-seven new firms were registered at the
zone during the first half of 2008, bringing the total number of
companies operating from the zone to 4773 companies with a total
investment of Dh10 billion.
Sharjah Free Zones
Free zones in Sharjah are a leading source of revenue for the emirate.
By mid-2008 Sharjah free zones had 4716 companies and the
government was planning new free zones designed to attract foreign
investment. Existing Sharjah free zone enterprises included 440
aviation companies, 2434 trading companies, 1429 service companies
and 413 industrial companies.
Ajman Free Zone
The emirate of Ajman has continued to develop its new free zone
project, complementing the emirate’s existing free zone (AFZ), which
has attracted numerous foreign companies and has the highest number
of ready-made garments factories in the world. The zone’s 19 factories
export to GCC countries, the US, Europe, Canada and elsewhere.
Fujairah Free Zone
Fujairah’s location on the east coast of the UAE, bordered by the open
waters of the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean, and adjacent to one
 E CO N O M I C D E V E LO PM E N T 115

of the world’s busiest shipping routes has been a positive factor in the
rapid development of Fujairah Free Zone. The zone operates a user-
friendly website at www.fujairahfreezone.com and in answer to the
frequently asked question of how to establish a base of operations at
the zone, the administration promises to issue licences within 48
hours of final agreement on the terms and conditions of the contract
and the fulfilling of the first year‘s financial commitments (premises
rent, licensing fees, Fujairah Chamber of Commerce registration).
Investors leasing trading offices or other pre-built units can take
over the premises with immediate effect upon the issuance of a
licence. In addition, investors signing contracts for constructing their
own customised building may utilise free zone facilities to prepare
their manufacturing units during the period of constructing their
units. Over 600 companies are registered with the free zone, operating
within the fields of assembly, consulting, distribution, financial, general
manufacturing, commercial, contracting, general trading and logistics.

PETROCHEMICALS & FERTILISERS

The UAE’s oil and gas industry has spawned a major associated The UAE’s oil and gas
petrochemicals industry that produces a variety of materials including industry has spawned a
plastics, melamine, fertilisers and urea. Abu Dhabi has several major major associated
petrochemical and fertiliser industrial complexes: the Ruwais Fertiliser petrochemicals industry
Industries Company (Fertil), the Abu Dhabi Polymers Company that produces a variety
(Borouge), and Abu Dhabi Fertiliser Industries Company (Adfert). It is
of materials, including
also pioneering environmental initiatives in relation to this and other
plastics, melamine,
potentially polluting industries.
fertilisers and urea.
Borouge
Borouge’s current production capacity in the UAE is 600,000 tonnes of
Borstar polyethylene per year. With the ongoing Borouge 2 project
expansion, this will increase to 2 million tonnes per year by the middle
of 2010 and will add polypropylene to the product mix. The Borouge 2
facility comprises a 1.5 million tonne ethane cracker, the world’s largest
olefins conversion unit (with a capacity of 750,000 tonnes), two
Borstar polypropylene plants with a total capacity of 800,000 tonnes
and a 540,000 tonne Borstar polyethylene plant. A feasibility phase
for Borouge 3 was scheduled for completion by the end of 2008.
Borouge recently took steps to move the main base of its operations
from Port Zayed to Khalifa Port. In June 2008 it signed an MoU with

@ www.uaeinteract.com/economicdevelopment
There are approximately ten Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC) to enable a smooth transfer of its
pharmaceutical and related port operations. Borouge requires the provision of expanded port
products manufacturing
services to handle an increase in production, expected to reach 4.5
companies in the UAE.
million tonnes upon the completion of Borouge 3 in 2014.
Borouge also recently awarded a service contract to Agility Pjsc to
build the Borouge Compound Manufacturing Unit (CMU) and Shanghai
Logistics Hub in Shanghai, China, and to provide local logistics services
for Borouge’s customers in Asia for a duration of ten years with effect
from its operational start-up date in 2010. Agility is undertaking the
design, development and subsequent operation of the logistics hub,
to ensure sufficient infrastructure, storage facilities, packaging and
distribution services to accommodate Borouge’s products that are
dispatched to China from Abu Dhabi. Agility will handle and distribute
a total volume of approximately 600,000 tonnes of polyolefins out
of the Shanghai logistics hub annually.

PHARMACEUTICALS
At the present time there are approximately ten pharmaceutical and
related products manufacturing companies in the UAE. The leader is
Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries, known as Julphar, which is based in
Ra’s al-Khaimah.
Julphar opened two new plants in April 2008 to produce antibiotics
as part of the company’s ambitious expansion plan. Julphar 8 and 9,
 E CO N O M I C D E V E LO PM E N T 117

which cost Dh30 million, are initially producing over 50 kinds of

antibiotics with a total capacity of 30 million syringes a year. The two
facilities produce injection ready units of penicillin and cephalosporin.
Meanwhile, work was under way on building seven new state-of-the-
art manufacturing plants in Ra’s al-Khaimah at a total cost of Dh800
million. The company also announced that it would be opening a
chain of retail pharmacy outlets across the MENA region.
Until recently Julphar was the only notable UAE-based manufacturer,
but it has been joined in the last few years by relative newcomers,
including Neopharma in Abu Dhabi, Globalpharma and Gulf Injects in
Dubai and Medpharma in Sharjah. The biotechnology field is also
bringing new pharmaceutical companies to the United Arab Emirates,
principally to DuBiotech, the specially created free zone in Dubai that is
mentioned above.

CERAMICS
RAK Ceramics presently accounts for 5 per cent of the total world
production of ceramic tiles and it owns a 50 per cent stake in a 15
million pieces per year ceramic tableware company. The company’s
UAE factories are located 20 kilometres south of Ra’s al-Khaimah
City, along the highway to Dubai. While it runs the global business
from its UAE base, it has also established an extensive international
network of factories.
In March 2008 RAK Ceramics announced a net profit of Dh169.7 RAK Ceramics presently
million for the year 2007, registering a 10 per cent increase from accounts for 5 per cent
Dh153.7 million in 2006. The annual revenue of the company touched of the total world
Dh2.27 billion, posting a 35 per cent increase from Dh1.68 billion in production of ceramic
2006. Global production reached 98 million square metres of tiles
tiles and it owns a 50 per
and 3.3 million pieces of sanitary ware in 2007.
cent stake in a 15 million
RAK Ceramics is involved in a total of 32 joint ventures and projects,
pieces per year ceramic
encompassing 12 operating joint ventures, 11 ceramic distribution
tableware company
companies and another nine new joint ventures. These include RAK
Paints LLC, RAK Warehouse Leasing LLC, and a 70 per cent stake in
Acacia Hotels LLC, which is opening a number of new four-star hotels
in the region.

GOLD & JEWELLERY

Dubai is a long-established market for gold bullion and wholesale and
retail jewellery. The trade is fuelled by strong demand from the Arab

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118 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
The UAE is a long-established
market for wholesale and
retail jewellery.
UAE gold sales increased
by 56 per cent in the
third quarter of the year
to reach Dh4.3 billion
(US$1.17 billion)
compared to
Dh2.8 billion in the
same period of the
previous year.
world and India, the world’s top gold market. Dubai, also known as
‘City of Gold’, has the highest concentration of jewellery shops in the
world, and the industry witnessed trade worth US$35 billion in 2007,
accounting for 20 per cent of the global jewellery trade of US$173
billion in that year. The Gold and Diamond Park and the new gold souk
in Dubai Mall are providing strong support for this business sector in
the UAE. Dubai Mall houses the world’s largest indoor Gold Souk, a
precinct with over 220 gold and jewellery retailers. This fascinating
venue recreates the traditional charm of an Arabian souk reflecting the
rich regional heritage of the gold trade.
In 2007, Dubai’s gold imports reached 559 tonnes while exports
amounted to 287 tonnes. Sale of gold within the country has increased
year-on-year despite rising prices with retail sales worth almost Dh500
million during the 2008, 65-day Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS). The
local industry is supported by Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group, a trade
association with more than 700 members who represent all sectors of
the business, including bullion, manufacturing, wholesale and retail.
Turmoil in global financial circles did, however, have an impact on
gold sales in 2008 with second-quarter gold imports falling 2.1
per cent to 143 tonnes, compared with 2007, and exports falling
15.8 per cent to 64 tonnes. Total gold imports for the first half of 2008
were down 4.7 per cent, at 265 tonnes. Total exports during the same
period rose 26.1 per cent to 179 tonnes. Spot gold powered to a
record of US$1030.80 an ounce on 17 March 2008 due to record-high
crude oil prices, fears of inflation and expectations of more rate
cuts in the United States, making the metal more attractive as an
alternative investment. Gold is seen as a safe-haven metal and as a
hedge against inflation.
In early October 2008 Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange
(DGCX) announced that gold futures had risen by 37 per cent year-
to-date (January–September), reaching 695,000 contracts, whilst the
average daily volume for gold futures stood at 3200 contracts in
September, up 51 per cent on September 2007.
MARITIME INDUSTRIES
Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB)
ADSB is a UAE public joint stock company listed on the ADX. With
an order book in excess of Dh2.5 billion (US$681 million), 10 per cent
of the company is owned by the Abu Dhabi government, 40 per
Dubai, which has been dubbed ‘City of
Gold’, has the highest concentration of
jewellery shops in the world.
120 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
Bus manufacturing plant
in the UAE.
In November 2008
ADSB was awarded a
multi-million dollar
contract to build four
landing craft for the
Bahrain Naval Forces
in the face of stiff
competition from
international boatyards.
This is the second
Bahraini order for the
company, which has
the only dedicated
naval shipbuilding and
repair facility in the
Arabian Gulf.
cent by Mubadala. and 50 per cent by more than 6000 UAE national
shareholders. The company, in business since 1996, is the largest
major shipbuilder in the region. ADSB completed more than 200
repairs and retrofits from its yard in Abu Dhabi in 2007 and is the
only naval shipyard in the Middle East, providing both build and
support services for all Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) naval vessels.
Following its establishment, ADSB quickly evolved from retrofitting
vessels into building new craft from steel and aluminium, and most
recently carbon fibre composites. It is currently building six 72-metre
corvettes for the UAE Navy in a contract worth more than Dh3.67
billion (U$1 billion).
It was also recently awarded a contract by the UAE Coast Guard to
build 12 patrol boats branded as the ‘Al-Saber’ class. The 34-metre
boats, constructed of composite materials, have a ‘mother-daughter’
design. The ‘mother’ vessel has a stern ramp that accommodates a
smaller, high-speed ‘daughter’ boat, which can be launched at sea
to enable fast interception. The patrol boats will be laminated in
ADSB’s new state-of the-art composite workshop at the company’s
Musaffah shipyard.
Meanwhile, UAE GHQ awarded ADSB a contract for the operational
refits of the UAE Navy’s two 65-metre Murray Jib Class Corvettes.
The value of the contract is estimated at between Dh150 million
and Dh200 million. And in September 2008 ADSB and Rolls-Royce
Marine Middle East announced another agreement to set up a
Waterjet Centre of Excellence in Abu Dhabi to provide support services
to its customers in the Arabian Gulf region.
ADSB announced in August 2008 that it had established a joint
venture with BVT Surface Fleet (itself a joint venture between BAE
Systems and VT Group), one of the world’s largest marine defence
contractors to provide services and support to navies in the Gulf.
The new entity was expected to win a long-term contract to service
a large number of vessels under the purview of the UAE Navy, Coast
Guard, Marine Police and other organisations.
The new venture is expected to be larger than ADSB, which in
2007 earned Dh448 million (US$122 million) in revenues and Dh26
million in net profit. The joint venture is the second for ADSB, which
is also the local partner in Abu Dhabi Systems Integration – a military
systems support provider – with Selex Sistemi Integrati, part of
Finmeccanica, the Italian defence and aerospace conglomerate.
 E CO N O M I C D E V E LO PM E N T 121

Boat manufacturing
Dubai Maritime City in the UAE.
Construction work on Dubai Maritime City began in January 2008. The
first step was to dredge for the ‘fill’ to create the 2.3 million square
metre peninsula that will house Dubai Maritime City (DMC). Rocks
from the mainland were transported by barges and deposited in the
sea off Dubai Ports Authority’s (DPA) Port Rashid Terminal and Dubai
Drydocks, where the new maritime facility is being built.
DMC is an integrated state-of-the-art development that will provide
every element of infrastructure required by key marine and maritime
related industries from six diverse sectors – marine services, marine
management, product marketing, marine research and education,
recreation, ship design and manufacturing – and will offer world-
class facilities and services to maritime businesses in the region
and worldwide.
Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA), governing body of the
maritime centre and member of the Dubai World Group, has recently
announced that registration and licensing of all maritime businesses in
Dubai, which was previously the responsibility of Dubai’s Department

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122 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

of Economic Development (DED), will now be handled by DMCA

as part of initiatives to provide a centralised point of access for all
maritime-related activities in the emirate.
Under the new setup, DMCA will facilitate various maritime-related
transactions including trade name, issuance of licence, renewal of
licence, amendment of licence and cancellation of licence, in
accordance with the Dubai Maritime City Law No 11 of 2007, which
mandates DMCA to enhance Dubai’s position in the maritime industry.
In June 2008 DMC launched its Maritime Centre, comprising a
group of five high-rise towers called the Creek Towers and Plaza, a
landmark tower located at the head of the man-made peninsula and
seven plots reserved for potential developers planning to construct
their own towers. The Centre will also feature a five-star business
hotel and premium service apartments, and will be the first exclusive
maritime cluster in the world.

OIL & GAS

The UAE has the sixth largest proven oil reserves and the fifth largest
proven natural gas reserves in the world. It is also the world’s third
The UAE has the sixth
largest exporter of crude oil. By 2030 it is predicted that the world
largest proven oil
will require 118 million barrels per day of oil, 42 per cent more than
reserves and the fifth
it was consuming in 2005. Whilst the UAE is in a strong position
largest proven natural
with natural resources of oil and gas capable of lasting, at present
gas reserves in the
production levels, for more than 100 years, it is clear that the country
world. It is also the
is not isolated from the world community and that, as supplies
world’s third largest
elsewhere dwindle, there will be increased pressure on the UAE and
exporter of crude oil.
fellow members of OPEC to meet rising demand for oil and gas. The
success or failure of government strategies in the field of energy
management will thus have implications far beyond national borders.
Given the fact that we are also entering a period of accelerating climate
change linked to carbon emissions, the UAE has a significant role to
play in seeking ways to mitigate the impact of fossil fuels on our planet.
Recognising these evolving conditions, and cognisant of its own
national and global responsibilities, the UAE has been active in three
main fields, i.e. firstly increasing its production capacity and efficiency
for both oil and gas so as to be in a position to meet demand; secondly
utilising state-of-the-art technologies and implementing strong policies
in its hydrocarbon industries so that the environmental impact of
 E CO N O M I C D E V E LO PM E N T 123

OIL PRODUCTION (thousand barrels) 3000

2500
3000
2000

2500 1500
Thousand barrels per day

1000
2000
500

1500 0
‘82 ‘86 ‘90 ‘94 ‘98 ‘02 ‘06
UAE Crude Oil Production
1000
500
500
400

0 300
‘80 ‘82 ‘84 ‘86 ‘88 ‘90 ‘92 ‘94 ‘96 ‘98 ‘00 ‘02 ‘04 ‘06 UAE Middle OPEC World
200
UAE Total Oil Production 1980–2006 World Total Oil Production
100
2006 2007
0
UAE Middle East OPEC World Rank UAE ‘80 ‘84 ‘88 ‘92 ‘96 ‘00 ‘04 ‘07
Total oil production 2,945.08 25,206 35,832 84,544 8 2,947.70 UAE Oil Consumption
Crude oil production 2,635.70 22,751 32,610 73,484 8 2,602.59 3000
F
Consumption 381.00 6,161 8,026 84,949 33 400 2500
F
Net exports/imports (-) 2,564.08 19,045 27,806 -- 3 2,548 2000
Refinery capacity 781 7,034 9,597 85,345 33 781 1500
Proved reserves (billion barrels) 97.800 743 907 1,293 6 97.800 1000
F
= Forecast value 500
Source: Energy Information Administration (US)
0
‘80 ‘84 ‘88 ‘92 ‘96 ‘00 ‘04 ‘07
Net exports/imports
these activities is minimised; and thirdly playing an active role in
developing technologies for future energy solutions. These three main
areas of activity are also in harmony with the UAE’s efforts to promote
sustainable development by stimulating economic growth, nurturing
social development, and promoting environmental protection.
The Emirates exported around 2.6 million barrels of crude oil per
day (bpd) in 2007 and had a production capacity of around 2.7 million
bpd with work well under way to raise that figure to 3.3 million bpd The UAE exported
by 2010 and possibly to over 5 million bpd by 2014. The country’s around 2.6 million
proven crude oil reserves stand at 97.8 billion barrels, or slightly less barrels of crude oil per
than 8 per cent of the world’s total reserves. Abu Dhabi holds 94 per
day (bpd) in 2007 and
cent of this amount, or about 92.2 billion barrels. Dubai contains an
had a production
estimated 4 billion barrels, followed by Sharjah and Ra’s al-Khaimah,
with 1.5 billion and 100 million barrels of oil, respectively. capacity of around 2.7
Recent and planned investments in Abu Dhabi’s oil industry have million bpd, with work
been focused on maximising potential of its oil fields whilst minimising well under way to raise
environmental impacts. The impressive list of large-scale hydrocarbon that figure to 3.3 million
projects being implemented to raise the UAE’s output capacity has bpd by 2010.

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124 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
The impressive list of large-
scale hydrocarbon projects
being implemented to raise
the UAE’s output capacity has
consolidated its position as
one of the top crude
producers in the world.
consolidated its position as one of the top crude producers in the
world. Development of the offshore Upper Zakum field by the Zakum
Development Company, (Zadco), at a cost of Dh5.5 billion, is planned
to increase its capacity to 750,000 bpd. A similar amount is being
spent by the Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (Adma-Opco)
for the expansion of the giant Umm Shaif offshore field, and Dh7.3
billion was spent on the Nasr field development.
The Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations (Adco) has
so far invested almost Dh5.5 billion into phase one of its development
programme, bringing three new fields into production in north-eastern
Abu Dhabi (Al Dabbiya, Rumaitha and Shanayel) at an initial rate of
around 100,000 bpd and expanding the capacity of Bu Hasa and Bab
field by 180,000 bpd and 100,000 bpd respectively. A further Dh5.1
billion is being channelled into the development of the onshore Sahil,
Asab and Shah fields.
Also onshore, US major Occidental were awarded a concession in
late 2008 to develop the Jarn Yaphour and Ramhan fields, near the
city of Abu Dhabi, which are expected to add an initial 20,000 bpd to
production capacity. Around Dh1.835 billion will be spent on the
fields’ development.
ExxonMobil, the world’s largest private oil company, is undertaking
the development of Upper Zakum under a contract awarded to it by
the Supreme Petroleum Council in 2006. The agreement allowed it
to acquire 28 per cent in Zadco, while the Japan Oil Development
Company kept its 12 per cent and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company
(Adnoc) maintained overall control with its 60 per cent holding. Upper
Zakum, the third largest offshore oilfield in the Gulf and one of the
biggest in the world, is believed to contain in excess of 50 billion
barrels of reserves in place, with estimated recoverable resources of
around 16 to 20 billion barrels, using extensive water injection.
Meanwhile, Umm Shaif, about 150 kilometres north-west of Abu
Dhabi City, has 268 oil wells producing 200,000 bpd. Under the above
mentioned development contract, Umm Shaif’s long-term sustainable
capacity will be raised to 300,000 bpd.
Adma-Opco’s largest oilfield, Lower Zakum, has raised its capacity
to 300,000 bpd, while, with the completion of Adco’s projects, its
capacity rose from 1.2 million to 1.4 million bpd, with further
development to 1.8 million bpd under way. Additional expansion in
output was expected from Adma-Opco and other offshore oilfields.
 Dubai’s offshore oil production, once over 200,000 bpd, has fallen The oil sector accounts for
significantly in recent years, although it also continues to produce only 3 per cent of Dubai’s GDP.

gas from offshore and condensate from onshore.

Whilst in the 1980s the oil sector accounted for around half of
Dubai’s GDP, and the emirate’s light and sweet crude was the
benchmark for all of the Middle East’s production, the industry now
accounts for only 3 per cent of Dubai’s GDP. But Dubai has certainly
not turned away from the energy sector, seeing itself as a natural
location for trading in oil and gas as well as a huge consumer of
both forms of energy.
Most of the major energy sector companies have regional offices
in Dubai. The decision by Halliburton, the US oil industry services
company, that it would locate its regional headquarters in Dubai,
reaffirmed the city’s status as a business hub for the energy sector.

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126 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
Takreer’s new oil
refinery in Ruwais,
which is scheduled for
completion in 2013, will
raise Abu Dhabi’s total
refining capacity from
the current 485,000 bpd
to 885,000 bpd.
Upstream majors such as BP and Shell are also well represented in the
emirate. BP controls its regional downstream activities of refining and
distribution from Dubai while its production activities remain centred
in Abu Dhabi.
Shell directs its regional upstream activities from Dubai, using the
emirate’s links with south-east Asia to control the company’s assets
in Pakistan and elsewhere. Meanwhile, PSI Energy Holding, formerly
based in Bahrain, announced its decision to move most of its corporate
operations to Dubai in an effort to better access projects in the region.
The emirate is thus leading a new impetus towards regional energy
trading, both physically and on paper markets. Both the Dubai
Mercantile Exchange and the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre have
established trading in energy futures for fuel oil and Omani crude oil.
Sharjah is the third UAE hydrocarbon producer. In July 2008 it
announced a 20-year farm-out agreement between the Sharjah
government and BP Sharjah Ltd with RAK Petroleum PCL. The deal
created a new, 34 square kilometre, East Sajaa concession in which
RAK Petroleum will drill for gas on the basis that any discoveries are
to be processed through the existing Sajaa plant operated by BP
Sharjah Ltd. RAK Petroleum holds a 55 per cent stake and operation
control in the new concession, with the Sharjah government and BP
Sharjah Ltd holding 27 per cent and 18 per cent respectively.
BP Sharjah Ltd will continue to operate the principal Sajaa Gas
Concession, in which the Sharjah government holds 60 per cent
stake and BP Sharjah Ltd holds 40 per cent stake, and which includes
the Saja’a, Moveyeid and Kahaif fields.
OIL REFINING
In February 2008 the Abu Dhabi oil refining company, Takreer,
revealed new plans to build a 417,000 bpd refinery in Ruwais,
expected to go into operation by 2013. When completed, this will
raise Abu Dhabi’s total refining capacity from the current 485,000
bpd to 885,000 bpd. The move follows a steady increase in fuel
demand in the country with a 4.6 per cent hike in usage, to more
than 223,000 bpd in 2007. With the rate of consumption continuing
to rise (by at least 5 per cent in 2008) there is a strong demand for
refined products, primarily diesel (95,600 bpd in 2007) followed by
gasoline (83,000 bpd). These are supplied by refineries in Abu Dhabi
and in other emirates, with excess being exported.
 E CO N O M I C D E V E LO PM E N T 127

Ruwais refinery, nearly 250 kilometres east of Abu Dhabi, currently In December 2007,
produces approximately 400,000 bpd while Umm al Nar’s capacity independent oil trader
is estimated at nearly 85,000 bpd. The UAE’s total refining capacity Vitol recommissioned
stood at 778,000 bpd at the start of 2007 but expansion projects and restarted part of the
and new refineries, including one being built in Fujairah by the 82,000 barrels per day
International Petroleum Company (IPIC) with a capacity of 500,000 refinery in Fujairah that
bpd, are expected to raise production to over 1.5 million bpd by 2012.
had been mothballed
Clearly, the new refinery at Ruwais will play a very significant role
for about four years.
in strengthening the UAE’s refining capacity. Progress has been steady
The small refinery is
with Takreer signing an agreement on technology and engineering
services with a subsidiary of Honeywell International, UOP, at the being used primarily to
end of September 2008. At the same time an announcement was support Vitol’s fuel oil
made concerning the new refinery’s proposed output, which will business both regionally
include propylene, unleaded gasoline, naphtha, liquefied petroleum and for export to Asia.
gas (LPG), aviation turbine fuel, kerosene, gas-oil, bunker fuel and
other hydrocarbon derivatives. It is expected to be complete in 2014
and will utilise a wide range of UOP technologies for the production
of clean, low sulphur distillate and gasoline.

DOLPHIN GAS PROJECT

In May 2008 the Dolphin Gas Project was formally inaugurated in a
ceremony in Qatar attended by HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani,
Crown Prince of Qatar, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan,
Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the
UAE Armed Forces, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE
Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of Dolphin Energy Limited,
and HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of
Presidential Affairs and Chairman of the International Petroleum
Investment Company, IPIC. Senior Qatari, UAE and Omani government
officials, Dolphin’s board of directors and senior management, along The Dolphin Gas Project was
formally inaugurated in May
with other guests also attended the formal inauguration ceremony. 2008.
The Dolphin Gas Processing Plant is the largest single-build gas
plant in the world and is central to Dolphin’s operations. The ceremony
marked the successful completion of the Dolphin Gas Project – the
largest gas initiative ever undertaken in the Gulf region. The seven-
year construction programme saw the creation of a full energy value
chain – from gas wells offshore Qatar, onshore processing plant, gas
export pipeline to the UAE and substantial gas supplies to customers
across the seven emirates. Transportation of the dry gas by sub-sea

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128 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

export pipeline from Qatar to the UAE began in July 2007 and
Dolphin supplies up to 2 billion standard cubic feet of refined natural
gas, every day, to utilities, industries and consumers throughout
the UAE. Major customers for Dolphin gas from Qatar are Adwea
(Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority), Uwec (Union Water
and Electricity Company), Dusup (Dubai Supply Authority) and, from
October 2008, OOC (Oman Oil Company). Each has signed a gas
supply agreement with Dolphin Energy for 25 years.
Dolphin Energy is 51 per cent owned by Mubadala, on behalf of
the Abu Dhabi government, and 24.5 per cent each by Total of France
and Occidental Petroleum of the USA.
The Dolphin export pipeline has been constructed for maximum
physical throughput of some 90.6 million cubic metres, nearly 60 per
Dolphin Energy cent more than was being transmitted under initial development and
commenced supplying production-sharing agreements. Dolphin has initiated discussions with
gas to Oman on the Qatari authorities on the possibility of further gas supply in the
2 November 2008, future. Meanwhile, the company’s officials have estimated the total
completing the strategic cost of the project at US$5 billion, including the US$1.6 billion gas
Qatar–UAE–Oman processing facilities at Ra’s Laffan, which serves the giant offshore
natural gas grid first North Field, the world’s largest single reservoir of non-associated gas,
proposed in 1999. with deposits of more than 900 trillion cubic feet.
Dolphin Energy’s prime activity is in transporting gas from its source
to the end users through major pipelines. It is in this context that a
new pipeline from Taweelah to Fujairah (TFP), announced in July
2008, fits into the company’s overall strategy. The Dh1.5 billion project
involves a 48-inch diameter pipe being laid over more than 240
kilometres of desert and mountainside – one of the longest and most
substantial overland pipelines in the UAE. The TFP will link Dolphin
Energy’s gas receiving facilities at Taweelah, on the coast of Abu
Dhabi, with the Adwea power and water desalination plants at Qidfa,
in Fujairah.

GAS PRODUCTION
The UAE is pumping billions of dollars into projects to boost its
hydrocarbon production, establish more gas-related industries and
increase oil extraction from its fields by gas injection. With its proven
gas wealth exceeding 6 trillion cubic metres the UAE is the fifth largest
gas power in the world and is one of the top LNG producers. Its
sprawling LNG complex on Das Island produces in excess of 8 million
 E CO N O M I C D E V E LO PM E N T 129

tonnes per year. Increasing quantities of gas are being used to enhance Adnoc announced in
oil recovery by injection into underground reservoirs. December 2008 that it
The two Abu Dhabi companies directly involved in natural gas will implement all its
industry are Abu Dhabi Gas Industries Company Ltd (Gasco), onshore, future projects
and Abu Dhabi Gas Liquefaction Company Ltd (Adgas), offshore. Gasco according to the
was founded in 1978 to process the associated gas of Abu Dhabi’s framework of the Kyoto
onshore gas and then pump it to Ruwais gas liquefaction plant where
Agreement's Clean
it is fractionated and exported. Adnoc utilises part of the Gasco-
Development
produced gas locally.
Mechanism (CDM)
Gasco’s recent projects, costing more than Dh14.68 (US$4 billion),
are briefly discussed below. related to the reduction
The onshore gas development phase III (OGD-III) project is designed of carbon emissions.
to process 1306 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/d) of
condensate rich gas (from the Thamama “F” reservoir) at Habshan
and to produce 11,800 tonnes per day (tpd) of NGL (including 3400
tpd ethane) and 130,000 bpd condensate. Residue gas will be re-
injected back into the reservoir for pressure maintenance purposes
(gas re-cycling).
The Ruwais third NGL Train is designed to process the additional
24,400 tpd of NGL produced from OGD-III, AGD-II (Asab gas
development – phase II) and other projects and to produce about 6400
tpd of raw ethane for transfer to the petrochemical plant at Ruwais
(Borouge), 6000 tpd each of propane and butane and 5800 tpd of
pentane plus products. The project comprises a new NGL fractionation
train and new storage tanks for propane, butane and pentane plus.
AGD-II is designed to recover 400 tpd of NGL from the sour
condensate-rich gas from the existing Asab gas plant. As with OGD-
III, residue gas will be re-injected back into the reservoir for pressure
maintenance purposes. Main facilities include two trains for gas
treatment and two for NGL recovery together with a new NGL pipeline
from Asab to Habshan and other required facilities.
The Habshan gas complex expansion (HGCE) involves installation
of enhanced gas processing facilities at Habshan to process additional
associated gas produced by Adco through their crude oil expansion
projects at Bab and Bu Hasa and to introduce operational flexibility
between Bu Hasa and Habshan. The project also includes installation
of an acid gas enrichment unit (AGEU) for processing acid gas from
OGD-III facilities as well as installation of two additional sulphur
recovery units (SRU).

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130 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

The offshore associated gas project (OAG) envisages transporting

the excess offshore associated gas from Das Island through a 200
kilometre-long, 30-inch diameter offshore/onshore pipeline and to
process it at Habshan, thereby establishing a strategic link between the
offshore and onshore facilities. The project is being implemented
through three separate EPC packages: one for the Das Island facilities,
one for the offshore pipeline, and one for the Habshan facilities and
onshore pipeline.
In addition to the above major developments, Gasco is preparing
a master plan for the company and is involved with the Bu Hasa
upgrade project, the Asab and Bab integrated control systems, the
Bu Hasa–Habshan gas pipeline, gas supply to Al Ain Air College,
replacement of NGL pipelines, a new lean gas station at Bu Hasa and
development of non-process buildings at Habshan. Looking ahead, a
re-structuring of Abu Dhabi’s onshore gas operations is being planned,
with Dolphin Energy also due to play a major role.
Adgas, Gasco’s fellow company involved with Abu Dhabi’s gas
resources, is the Gulf pioneer in the field of gas liquefaction. Its plant
on Das Island is unique worldwide in its ability to process both
associated gas, which is a by-product of oil extraction operations,
and natural gas extracted as a free product from gas reservoirs.
Adgas plant’s feed-gas, both associated and non-associated gas, comes
from Abu Dhabi’s offshore fields. The company’s plant comprises
three process trains with an average annual production of 8 million
tonnes of liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, pentane
and liquid sulphur.
In early 2007 Adgas awarded Technip a lump-sum turnkey contract
worth approximately Dh2.238 billion for gas compression plants and
associated facilities to be located at Das Island. The plant’s facilities,
which include compressor and booster stations, fuel gas treatment
and gas dehydration units, will treat 211 mmscf/d of associated gases
produced by offshore fields in Abu Dhabi.
Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi is considering using its abundant sour gas
stocks to meet fast-growing domestic gas demand from power
stations, homes and industries. With this in mind Adnoc signed an
interim agreement in July 2008 with ConocoPhillips of the USA,
for development of a major project to tap into the sour gas resources
at the Shah field. The project, involving several gas-gathering systems,
construction of processing trains to process 1 billion cfd of gas at
Shah, is expected to deliver a minimum of 570 mmcf/d of network
gas, in addition to new gas and liquid pipelines and the construction
of sulphur exporting facilities at Ruwais.

National Gas Shipping Company

Since 1994 The National Gas Shipping Company Ltd. (NGSCO) has
provided uninterrupted transportation of LNG produced by Adgas from
Das Island to Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) in Japan. NGSCO
operates a fleet of eight modern LNG vessels and also provides
transportation for LPG and sulphur to various destinations across the
world, extending its expertise to the Adgas supply chain.
Taking over full operation of its fleet of eight Moss Rosenberg liquid
natural gas carriers on 13 December 2007 and making safe delivery of
its one thousandth cargo on its own vessels at the Japanese terminal of
Higashi in Tokyo Bay on 13 April 2008, NGSCO is regarded as one of
the world’s leading companies in LNG transportation.

Dana Gas
Dana Gas, the first regional private-sector natural gas company in the
Middle East, was established with over 300 founder shareholders from
across the GCC region, and some 425,000 investors from over 100
nationalities. Headquartered in Sharjah, the company is listed on
ADX and has assets and projects in gas exploration and production,

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132 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

processing, transportation and marketing in several countries. Dana is

active in the natural gas business throughout the Middle East–North
Africa (MENA) region across the entire natural gas value-chain,
including upstream exploration and production, through the midstream
transmission and distribution of gas, including LNG trading, and
downstream into gas-related industries and petrochemicals. It has gas
projects in Kurdistan and has also implemented a drilling campaign of
19 new wells in Egypt.
The company also formed a new joint venture with Emarat to build,
own and operate a 48-inch common-user gas pipeline with capacity of
1 billion cfd, to serve customers in the UAE. It also completed an
acquisition to lead a consortium for development of the Gulf of Suez
gas liquids plant in partnership with the state-owned Egyptian Natural
Gas Holding Company (Egas) with processing capacity of 150 mmscf/d
of natural gas and production of approximately 120,000 t/y of propane
and butane in liquid form.

RAK Petroleum
RAK Petroleum is part-owner and operator of five concessions in the
Sultanate of Oman, one in Ra’s al-Khaimah and one in Sharjah.
Having acquired 754 kilometres of 2D seismic in 2007, the company
committed itself to drill three exploration wells in 2008 and 2009.
Exploration and field development expenditure in 2008 was in the
region of Dh330 million.
Production from RAK Petroleum’s offshore gas / condensate field,
Bukha, is projected at around 20 mmscf/d of gas in 2008 (gross) with
associated liquids production of 1500 bpd. Development of the nearby
West Bukha field was progressing with first production expected in
late 2008, increasing production by a further 35 mmscf/d of gas
(gross) with associated liquids production in excess of 10,000 bpd.
Both fields are located in Oman Block 8.
The Bukha field supplies about 10 per cent of the emirate’s gas
demand. This has now been boosted with production from Umm al-
Qaiwain’s Atlantis offshore field (see below), with the gas processed
by RakGas, which is yielding over 90 mmscf/d, or 30 per cent of the
emirate’s gas demand.

Umm al-Qaiwain Gas Production

Umm al-Qaiwain commenced production of up to 92 mmscf/d of wet
gas on 2 May 2008. The gas is being transported through a sub-sea
 E CO N O M I C D E V E LO PM E N T 133

pipeline for processing at the Rakgas plant in Ra’s al-Khaimah.

Development and operation of the new offshore gas field is being
carried out by Field Atlantis (UAQ) Ltd, a subsidiary of Sinochem
Corporation. The field is located 20 kilometres off the coast of Umm
al-Qaiwain and the unmanned platform is set in 33 metres of water.
The Khor Khwair gas plant, which receives the wet gas, extracts
condensate and sulphur before the gas is introduced into the local gas
grid. The UAQ field is the first offshore gas field development in the
emirate and its timely gas production is contributing significantly to
the energy needs in the northern emirates.

Fujairah’s Oil & Gas

The rapidly expanding east coast port of Fujairah is the second largest
bunkering port in the world (handling about 1 million tonnes of fuel
from neighbouring countries per month). Arrival of natural gas, via the
Dolphin Energy gas pipeline from Qatar, has boosted local industry, in
particular power generation and water desalination. Exports of gas
have also increased. Meanwhile, the Abu Dhabi government has made
a strategic investment by strengthening its ability to supply crude oil to
tankers outside the Arabian Gulf, at Fujairah. In August 2008 Abu
Dhabi-owned International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC)
began construction of a 500,000 bpd refinery and associated storage
tanks close to Fujairah Port, part of the Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline
Project (ADCOP), which will see the construction of a 360 kilometre
pipeline, capable of handling 1.5 million bpd from Habshan in Abu
Dhabi to Fujairah. It is due to be completed in 2010.

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY INDUSTRY

Abu Dhabi’s bold moves into the field of alternative energy and Abu Dhabi’s bold moves
sustainable development have earned it worldwide respect and into the field of
admiration. The visit to the UAE by the US President George W. Bush alternative energy and
in early 2008 was accompanied by a special briefing on the Masdar sustainable
Initiative which involves much more than building Abu Dhabi’s development have
innovative ‘zero carbon’ city. As we have already seen in the section
earned it worldwide
on industrial zones, it is, in fact, a multi-billion dollar commitment
respect and admiration.
to invest in alternative and renewable energy sources; sustainable
development; education; manufacturing and carbon management.
The Abu Dhabi government and Masdar regard their initiative in
both commercial and socio-environmental terms. Just as the UAE has

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134 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

developed a successful economy supported by oil and natural gas, so

will alternative energy become a cornerstone of the country’s future
economic stability.
The President was presented with a comprehensive display outlining
the six business units of the initiative, including plans for Masdar
City, and the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (MIST), the
region’s first graduate-level academic institution focused on energy
and sustainability, which is being developed in cooperation with the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
In November 2008, Masdar, which means ‘the source’ in Arabic, has four principal
Masdar and the UK objectives: firstly, to help drive the economic diversification of Abu
Government signed a Dhabi; secondly, to maintain and expand Abu Dhabi’s position in
collaboration agreement evolving global energy markets; thirdly, to help Abu Dhabi become a
on the development of developer of technology and last, but by no means least, to make a
renewable energy and meaningful contribution to sustainable human development.
clean technology Masdar is owned by the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Adfec),
solutions. The a wholly owned company of the government of Abu Dhabi through
contracting parties the Mubadala Development Company. Following President Bush’s
will leverage each visit, Masdar hosted the inaugural World Future Energy Summit
other's expertise and (WFES) bringing together the world’s leading innovators, educators,
influence to help scientists, venture capitalists and experts in the field of alternative
accelerate adoption of and renewable energies. The successful summit was the largest ever
technologies in order meeting of the ‘future energy’ movement and a premier event for
to make renewable world leaders to preview new solutions and technologies and to seek
energy scalable partners.
and affordable to the In addition to some high profile presentations made by the CEO of
global community. Masdar to world leaders in 2008, including special presentations to
British leaders at Buckingham Palace in London and to the US Congress
Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming in
Washington, D.C., Masdar has been quick to put real flesh on the
framework it is creating for sustainable technology development in
the UAE and around the world.
During his speech to the US Congressional Committee, Masdar’s
CEO, Dr Sultan Al Jaber, stated, ‘For the first time in history, more than
half of the world’s population now lives in cities, with their traditional
energy inefficiencies, waste and pollution. We must fundamentally re-
think how cities can conserve energy and other resources. We must
heavily employ new technologies and even create new urban models,
as we are doing in Masdar City’.
 E CO N O M I C D E V E LO PM E N T 135

Masdar’s approach to achieving its admirable goals is to create

constructive partnerships with world-class companies specialising in
technologies that are helping to solve our planet’s energy and climate
challenges. There is also a sense of urgency and priority to Masdar’s
efforts. ‘Today, governments and businesses worldwide are facing a
common problem of strain on natural resources and environment’,
Dr Al Jaber told attendees at a seminar at Buckingham Palace:
Energy security, climate change and sustainable development require In July 2008 Masdar
engaging, aligning and collectively committing to investing in and joined forces with Gulf
shaping a better and more secure future. Through Masdar, we want to Petrochemical Industries
play a major role in developing solutions that answer present challenges Company (GPIC) to
– challenges which are made all the more important due to the limited monetise the emission
time we have to solve them’ he stated. ‘We are not simply a renewable
reduction associated
energy initiative, our aspirations are far higher. We truly believe that
with carbon dioxide
we can make a difference.
capture and recycling
In August 2008, less than three months after announcing a strategic at GPIC's fertiliser facility
investment into thin-film photovoltaics, Masdar broke ground on its in Bahrain. The new
first photovoltaic production plant in Ichtershausen, Germany. The venture fits into the
plant will use advanced production technologies to bring PV closer
Kyoto Protocol's Clean
to grid parity. The US$230 million (EUR 150 million) German plant
Development
marked the first phase of Masdar’s US$2 billion (EUR 1.3 billion)
Mechanism (CDM) and
investment in thin-film PV manufacturing, one of the largest
will capture carbon
investments ever made in solar. To be opened in Q3 2009, the plant
has a targeted annual production capacity of 70 MW, and will create dioxide from flue gas
more than 180 green jobs. It will produce the world’s largest (5.7 and then recycle the
square metre) and most powerful PV modules. The German plant captured gas as
will act as a blueprint for technology and knowledge transfer to a feedstock in the
140 MW Abu Dhabi plant, which will begin initial production by Q3 production of urea
2010. Output from both facilities has been committed to major PV and methanol.
system installers in Europe, and for Masdar’s own energy generation
requirements. Abu Dhabi’s geography and its vision to become a
world leader in renewable energy, makes thin-film PV a natural area
of focus for Masdar.
In September 2008 Masdar announced that it had made a EUR120
million investment in wind energy company, WinWinD Oy, a Finnish
wind turbine manufacturer. WinWinD is active in design, development
and assembly of technologically advanced one-megawatt and three-
megawatt wind turbines. The investment helped Masdar to move

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136 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
The UAE has much to offer as
a tourist destination.
rapidly into the worldwide wind market enabling it to diversify its
renewable energy asset portfolio. Masdar intends to develop a full
range of sustainable energy capabilities, including solar power, wind
turbines and geothermal energy projects, as well as building a
hydrogen-generated power plant.
In mid-October 2008 Masdar announced that it had acquired a 20
per cent interest in the London Array wind farm project, destined to
become the world’s largest offshore wind farm. Other partners are
E.ON and Dong Energy. UK’s Prime Minister Gordon Brown welcomed
the decision. ‘I very much welcome Masdar’s decision to invest in
renewable energy in the UK. This is an excellent example of the
partnership that we need between oil producing and oil consuming
countries to develop new energy sources and technologies, diversifying
their economies and reducing our dependence on carbon. The scale
and vision of the London Array is groundbreaking, and places the
UK at the forefront of offshore wind development,’ he said.
TOURISM
A report by BMI in September 2008 stated that the growth rate in
visitors to the UAE in 2007 was a relatively strong 7.5 per cent year-on-
year, equating to some 8.5 million arrivals. Europe accounted for the
largest group of tourists visiting Dubai in 2007 (32 per cent of the
total), followed by Asia (23 per cent). The study predicted a possible
steadying of demand from the United States and key European
economies that together accounted for 40 per cent of total arrivals to
the UAE in 2007. 6.95 million guests stayed in Dubai hotels, an
increase of 8 per cent year-on-year. Guest nights were up a buoyant
16.7 per cent to 20.5 million nights. Dubai hotels also recorded an
impressive average occupancy rate (beds) of 81.4 per cent in 2007. At
the end of 2007, Dubai had 319 operating hotels, up nearly 6 per cent
year-on-year, while the number of hotel rooms increased by a similar
rate, bringing the total room capacity to around 32,600.
Abu Dhabi National Hotels (ADNH) reported net profit of Dh477
million in preliminary financial results for 2007, representing a
substantial increase of 63 per cent compared with the previous year.
Total revenue increased to Dh1.3 billion from Dh1.2 billion in 2006.
Abu Dhabi has been investing heavily in development of its tourism
The UAE, which has been described as
the ‘rising star’ in the world of tourism,
is expected to become a major tourist
destination over the next five years.
138 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
An acrylic tunnel leads
visitors to the centre of the
aquarium at Dubai Mall.
facilities with many new projects coming on-stream in 2008. These
and other ongoing projects are expected to result in very strong
growth of this sector of the emirate’s economy.
The last year has seen dynamic acceleration in the UAE’s drive
towards creating a world-class tourism destination. Whilst the statistics
tell part of the story, one needs to look beyond the numbers to
understand the whole picture. The background to attractive and
successful developments such as Emirates Palace Hotel, the Burj
al-Arab, Emirates Mall or the Atlantis Resort on Jumeirah Palm is full of
imaginative planning, forward thinking and, above all, professional
organisation. The significant investments being made throughout
the sector, whether in hotel construction or resort development and
promotion of leisure activities, require considerable focus and highly
professional organisation and this has been facilitated by restructuring
of existing bodies or creation of new ones with clear responsibilities
to work in particular areas of tourism development. In Abu Dhabi
it is the responsibility of the new Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA)
to promote the emirate as a tourist destination, whilst creating The award-winning Emirates
the tourism infrastructure within Abu Dhabi falls to the Tourism Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi.

Development Investment Company (TDIC), an ADTA subsidiary, that is

involved, among other things, with extensive cultural developments on
Saadiyat Island (see section on Urban Development). Meanwhile, the
national airline, Etihad, works in tandem with these and other bodies
to enhance tourism to Abu Dhabi in particular and the UAE in general.
A key ingredient of the UAE’s tourism development campaign is
the creation of theme parks. There are over 30 such entertainment
resorts and theme parks being developed with a projected total
investment of Dh228 billion (US$62 billion). Prominent among
them are Warner Brothers Theme Park, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
and the Abu Dhabi Water Park. Meanwhile, ‘Dubailand’, a multi-
billion dollar enclave of theme parks, four and a half times the size
of Manhattan, has been described as ‘the Middle East’s answer to
Disneyworld’. Overall, the massive projects at Dubailand are expected
to boost the contribution of the tourism sector to the emirate’s gross
domestic product from its current 19 per cent to 35 per cent by 2015!
In addition, Ra’s al-Khaimah is developing WOW RAK that will
include two adjacent theme parks – Ice Land Water Park and Planet
Earth Theme Park – complete with a 12,000 square metre shopping
mall and entertainment plaza and a resort.

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140 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
Visitors can interact with
dolphins at the Atlantis resort.
New strategies are necessary
if agriculture in the UAE is to
remain a viable business.
The UAE’s first dolphinarium opened in Dubai in May 2008. The
1250-seat indoor arena at the Dubai Dolphinarium in Creek Park
stages three live shows a day. Visitors are encouraged to learn about
marine life in classrooms after the performances. The Dh33 million
(US$9 million) dolphinarium also has a multimedia science library
and an aqua-themed gym and fitness centre. The dolphins have all
been born in captivity, many from parents that were also born in
captivity. A more extensive dolphinarium known as Dolphin Bay
opened in November 2008 as part of the Atlantis hotel development
on Palm Jumeirah. This had its own first captive born baby dolphin
in September 2008 and the resort operates a programme enabling
visitors to engage in close contact with dolphins.
AGRICULTURE
Agriculture in the UAE has been going through very challenging times
with the growing acceptance that whilst the country has proven its
expertise in cultivating a wide range of crops in an exceedingly arid
climate, cost-benefit analysis of these activities calls into question
the sustainability of certain areas of the agri-sector.
The UAE’s only natural source of irrigation water is in underground
aquifers that are ‘tapped into’ by over 30,000 wells. Pumping
groundwater from the wells that tap into the vast subterranean
aquifers deep beneath Arabia’s desert sands has had a natural toll on
the water table and salinity levels. As fresh water has been depleted,
saline water has replaced it in many areas, to the great detriment of
soil fertility. With the water table in steady decline and incursions of
saline water on the increase there has been a realisation that new
strategies are necessary if agriculture in the UAE is to remain a
viable business.
There have been a number of approaches to this issue, including
the introduction of high-tech solutions such as water filtration and
recycling in livestock rearing units; intensive cultivation in controlled
environments and drip irrigation systems that optimise use of water.
These efforts have been met with some notable successes and there
are several positive indications that food production in the UAE can
be continued on a sustainable basis, albeit on a reduced scale in
some areas.
 The key limiting factor to raising the UAE’s agricultural production, The area under organic
cultivation in the UAE will be
the shortage of naturally occurring freshwater suitable for agricultural
increased to 3000 acres as the
use, has been counteracted to some extent by the use of both demand for natural food
desalinated and recycled water. But the costs of doing this are products is on the rise.
becoming prohibitively high and there has been a growing awareness
that agriculture accounts for 80 per cent of freshwater use but only
contributes 1.7 per cent to GDP. It is a situation that will not be
allowed to continue indefinitely and a great deal of work is taking
place to redress this imbalance by making local agriculture more
efficient in terms of water conservation and focusing on crops that
create high value products with minimum water consumption.
Despite these efforts to improve the UAE’s agricultural methods,
today’s farms seem unlikely to provide the desired levels of self-
sufficiency in food production that were achieved in the past.

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142 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
A farm in Liwa contrasts with
the surrounding desert.
Biotechnology has a role to
play in UAE agriculture.
Meanwhile, the need for food production in the UAE has never been
greater. With population rapidly increasing the demand curve is on
an upward trajectory that local agriculture is simply unable to meet.
The traditional solution has been importation of food from overseas
suppliers. More recently a refinement of this approach has been direct
investment in certain overseas areas where agricultural potential may
not have been fully realised. The UAE has started to identify such
areas with a view to investment in agricultural development and
helping to serve the UAE’s own food needs. Recent acquisitions have
included 100,000 acres of land in Pakistan and 70,000 acres of
farmland in Sudan.
Despite the natural tendency to assume otherwise, not all farming
in the UAE is aimed at meeting local demand. A number of UAE farms
are using hydroponic methods to grow crops such as strawberries,
lettuce, peppers, tomatoes and roses in specially formulated nutrient
solutions. One such farming company, Mirak, with 200 acres of farms
under hydroponic production at Dhaid, Al Hayer, Sweihan and Al Ain,
grows more than 3500 tonnes of produce annually, exporting more
than 65 per cent of this to world markets such as Japan, Singapore
and Europe. Mirak’s successful operations are expected to increase
to five times their current size, boosting its trade volumes to more
than Dh100 million a year.
Whilst traditional farming practices in the UAE may be proving
somewhat impractical in terms of meeting the needs of the Emirates’
growing population, this does not mean that there is no future for
such methods in the country’s agricultural regime. Organic farming
methods, many of which have their grounding in traditional farming
methods, are gaining momentum and earning the appreciation of
local consumers. The first internationally certified organic farm in
the UAE was awarded its credentials in late 2007. Spread over five
hectares, Abu Dhabi Organic Farm grows tomatoes, mushrooms,
cabbage, carrots, cucumbers and herbs as well as strawberries and
mangoes, all under organic conditions. The Food and Agriculture
Organisation of the United Nations supervised the certification process
undertaken by a European certification centre.
Biotechnology has a role to play in UAE agriculture in a number of
different areas including possible resuscitation of depleted soils.
Farmers are learning to embrace scientific advances to solve seemingly
intractable problems of local agriculture.
 I N FR ASTRUC TURE

The UAE continues to spend billions of

dollars on infrastructure projects and is
the biggest projects market in the region.
 Through visionary leadership and the
philosophy of excellence ingrained in all
infrastructural developments, the
intention is to lead the region and the
world in shaping sustainable cities.
 145

INFRASTRUCTURE
THE UAE CONTINUES TO SPEND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS on infrastructure and Building better cities,
is the biggest projects market in the region, accounting for 37 per thereby providing a
cent of total project value within the construction, oil and gas, better life for the
petrochemicals, power and water and waste sectors. The last 12 people of the UAE, is
months have seen huge investment poured into real estate, tourism a key focus of
and leisure, with developments such as Masdar City and Saadiyat
government strategy.
Island highlighting Abu Dhabi’s status as an emerging market.
But the UAE’s future isn’t just about diversifying into travel and
tourism: building better cities, thereby providing a better life for the
people of the UAE, is a key focus of government strategy. Through
visionary leadership and the philosophy of excellence ingrained in
all infrastructural developments, the intention is to lead the region
and the world in shaping sustainable cities.
Entire conurbations, complete with the requisite infrastructure,
are being built to meet the unprecedented demand for housing
generated by a rapidly rising population and liberalised real estate
laws. As we have seen in the previous chapter, industry and trade is
also being fostered with the construction of free zones, dedicated
industrial areas and commercial clusters.
These developments are particularly evident in the larger emirates
of Abu Dhabi and Dubai. However, governments in the northern
emirates are rapidly following suit, providing major incentives for
developers of residential and commercial property.
In addition, UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
has allocated Dh16 billion (US$4.4 billion) for infrastructure projects
in the northern emirates The allocation will be used to fund the
construction of road networks, new housing communities, drainage
networks and other projects, providing integrated solutions to some
infrastructure deficits in these areas.

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URBAN DEVELOPMENT

ABU DHABI
Capital city of the emirate and the federation, Abu Dhabi is at the
centre of the unprecedented prosperity and growth sweeping across
the region. Driven by a boom in real estate and tourism sectors,
the total value of announced projects in Abu Dhabi is close to
the Dh1,835 billion (US$500 billion) mark, and industrial and
commercial activity is thriving. In response, therefore, to the need to
effectively manage burgeoning development, the visionary urban
structure framework 'Plan Abu Dhabi 2030' was formulated in 2007
with the assistance of eminent urban planners. This is designed to
help Abu Dhabi filter and respond to current and future development
needs, establish a planning culture and introduce strong guidelines
for sustainable development. Implementation and development of
the framework was entrusted to the recently formed Abu Dhabi
Urban Planning Council (www.upc.gov.ae).
Central to the plan is the creation of a sustainable city built around
vibrant neighbourhoods. This necessitates concentrating growth,
introducing transportation choice, creating mixed-use, pedestrian-
friendly streets, implementing more sustainable, cost-effective
infrastructure, and protecting and enhancing the natural environment.
Abu Dhabi’s espousal of best practice in urban planning has
earned it accolades, with a survey of 130 cities worldwide by one of the
world's largest property advisory firms singling it out as the ultimate
‘power city’ of the next millennium. Identifying Abu Dhabi as one of
the world's fastest growing ‘urban stars’ destined to be on the ‘radar
screen of the real estate industry’ for the next decade, the report
also predicted that Abu Dhabi would be a ‘city of substance’ by
2010, a ‘regional hub’ by 2015 and a ‘world winning city’ by
2020, a decade ahead of the Plan 2030 deadline.
The report pointed out that Plan 2030 was unique to the region and
created a ‘structured and clearly articulated framework for the city's
long-term growth’. It added that the city epitomised a fresh spirit of city
building, which is almost ‘unmatched anywhere else in the world’
and an expansion programme ‘that puts culture and community
ahead of pure commercialisation.’ The research also identified the
challenges ahead for the city and emirate.
 INFRASTRUCTURE 147

Core Districts
To achieve its aim of sustainable development, Plan 2030 proposes
a radical transformation of the capital city, based on the development
of core districts. Sowwah Island along with the adjacent fringes of
Mina Zayed and Al Reem Island will form Abu Dhabi's new Central
Business District. This will encompass 105 hectares of commercial,
residential and retail infrastructure supported by an extensive
network of 13 bridges, public transport links and pedestrian facilities,
all connecting with the already existing city centre.
Sowwah will feature the distinctive new headquarters of the Abu
Dhabi Securities Exchange and it will also be home to the first
Cleveland Clinic in the Middle East. Residential neighbourhoods will
surround the Central Business District, decreasing in density from an
impressive skyline of high-rise residential towers towards the centre to
low-rise traditionally planned Emirati communities on the outskirts.
Clustered around the city’s newest landmark, the Grand Mosque
District lies mid-way between the Central Business District and
Capital City, an important secondary downtown. The Officer’s Club
and Zayed Sports City are already located here, and further
development allows for more residential and commercial units,
including mid-rise residential developments, with pockets designated
as Emirati housing. However, building heights are being carefully
regulated to ensure that views of the minarets of the Grand Mosque
remain the most prominent feature of the area.
The Capital City District is destined to be a key seat of local and The Abu Dhabi Urban
federal government, containing departmental offices and embassies Planning Council
as well as cultural institutions and commemorative spaces of defines the shape of
national importance. the emirate, ensuring
This new downtown development covering 49 million square
factors such as
metres will provide over 150,000 jobs and housing for more than
sustainability,
350,000 people and include a university quarter and a regional sports
infrastructure capacity,
hub. An integrated, high-capacity transit network will serve the local
population and link the Capital City District to the surrounding region. community planning
The development of an area of Saadiyat Island into Abu Dhabi’s and quality of life are
Cultural District is an exciting step for the city, creating for the first time a taken into
dedicated home for cultural and arts activities in the capital. The district consideration in all
will include five landmark museums or performance spaces, all developments.
designed by world-renowned architects, including Guggenheim
Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Louvre, and the Sheikh Zayed National

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 The Arzanah project surrounding Zayed
Sports City is just one of the many
innovative developments that have contributed
to Abu Dhabi’s designation as one of the world’s
fastest growing ‘urban stars’.
 INFRASTRUCTURE 149

Museum, with additional pavilion spaces throughout for temporary

exhibitions. The Cultural District will also be home to a New York
University (NYU) campus, the first comprehensive liberal arts campus to
be operated abroad by a major US university.
Designed for easy, shaded pedestrian access, Saadiyat Island
is just seven minutes from downtown Abu Dhabi via the ten-lane
Saadiyat Bridge, which is nearing completion, and 20 minutes from
Abu Dhabi International Airport via the Saadiyat Link highway from
Shahama, which is currently under construction.
As well as ensuring that residential and commercial sectors are
given space to expand, Plan Abu Dhabi 2030 sets aside areas for
the growth of the city’s current international airport and port,
both of which are essential for tourism and industry. Abu Dhabi
A key principle of Plan
International Airport and its industrial zone will form part of the city’s
new transport system as a major portal for those entering the city, with Abu Dhabi 2030 is to
connection to the proposed metro and high-speed rail systems. The respect, be scaled to,
current port (Mina Zayed) will be phased out by 2010, whilst work has and be shaped by the
commenced on Khalifa Port, a purpose-built container port half-way natural environment, in
between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The latter will be surrounded by an particular the sensitive
industrial zone and a free zone that will allow businesses to locate coastal and desert
production centres close to suppliers. ecosystems.

Development Themes
Several key ‘development themes’ or frameworks have helped to
shape Plan 2030. Keeping economic sustainability in mind, the goal
is to bring complementary land uses and developments together in
one place, while also discouraging uncontrolled growth beyond the
defined city limits.
Growth away from the two city centres is restricted and protected
environmental areas surrounding the city prevent unwanted urban
sprawl. Within these limits, areas at the south of Hudairiyat and
Abu Dhabi Island have been designated for major development
opportunities to complement the two city cores. Outside the main
residential and commercial zones, industrial areas in Mussafah and
Mafraq will be further developed and linked by an effective freight
transport network. In addition, high-tech industries will be developed
in the industrial zone surrounding Abu Dhabi International Airport,
and heavy industries will be housed in the industrial zone linked
to Khalifa Port.

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150 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
An example of a‘Fareej’– the
smallest unit of an Emirati
community as conceived
under the Abu Dhabi Urban
Structure Framework Plan –
shows a group of homes
clustered around a central
courtyard. This pattern is
based on the traditional
organisation of Emirati
settlements and reflects the
very high importance of
family relationships.
Fareejs grouped together in
‘Local Clusters’around a
central park complex, with a
kindergarten, outdoor play
area and local mosque.
Local clusters are grouped
into‘Neighbourhoods’,
supporting two primary
schools, a Friday mosque, a
park, and a women’s centre,
as well as local shops and
higher density housing.
The thrust of the plan is to ensure that Abu Dhabi’s future shape
reflects its heritage and retains its unique identity, allowing it to
become a contemporary expression of an Arab city. An important
part of this is the creation of communities that reflect local Emirati
customs and ways of life. Plan Abu Dhabi 2030 contains descriptions
of ‘building blocks’ – smaller-scale elements that make up the city,
designed around the specific needs of Emiratis. These include the
‘fareej’– modelled on a set of villas around a central courtyard,
reflecting an extended Emirati family structure – as well as island and
desert eco-villages. The villages are based on traditional Emirati
ways of life, and the aim is to ensure these environments are
provided across the emirate in a way that reflects local customs.
Sustainability initiatives such as solar and wind power will also
make these communities more self-reliant in the future.
A key principle of Plan Abu Dhabi 2030 is to respect, be scaled to,
and be shaped by the natural environment, in particular the sensitive
coastal and desert ecosystems. The plan protects Abu Dhabi’s
ecological wealth through a National Park system, with development
restricted around these areas. Furthermore, by creating a protected
‘sand belt’ around the city and ‘desert fingers’ reaching from the
desert to the shore, the plan contains urban growth and prevents
unplanned sprawl, a key factor in protecting the environment.
In addition, environmental policies ensure that sustainability is
the major consideration in the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council’s
decisions on all new development and infrastructure.
The plan stresses the need to design public spaces in a way that
encourages Abu Dhabi’s residents to feel ownership of, and to identify
themselves with, the city. New landscaped parks are to be introduced,
building on existing assets such as Lulu Island and the Corniche. Other
public spaces, including recreational parks and nature reserves,
informed by environmental policies, are to be introduced into new
developments and retroactively fitted into older city blocks.
Alongside the provision of new public spaces, the plan emphasises
attractive, high-quality street design and the creation of cycle and
pedestrian-friendly routes around the city – encouraging residents
to enjoy travelling through their city and to identify more closely
with the capital city’s distinct character.
Recognising that an effective and integrated transport network is
crucial to a growing, modern city, Plan Abu Dhabi 2030 sets out a
 INFRASTRUCTURE 151

schedule for developing a world-class transport system. The

transportation framework puts pedestrians as a priority. Streets
will be designed with continuous sidewalks and shading will be
provided through landscaping or shading structures.

Sustainable Buildings Programme

Within the context of Plan 2030, Estidama (‘sustainability’ in Arabic) is
an integrated programme that will oversee a set of discretionary
guidelines and mandatory regulations for sustainable (green) design,
operation and maintenance of all types of buildings and communities
within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The programme, which includes
the formation of a specialised government body, has been initiated by
UPC and a group of government agencies and developers (EAD, ADM,
Masdar, Aldar and Sorouh).
Estidama has three key components: the Estidama New Building
Guidelines launched in May 2008, the Estidama Community
Guidelines, and the forthcoming Estidama Building Guidelines. The
first phase, the Estidama New Building (ENB) Guidelines, have
been formulated to provide all concerned parties and stakeholders
(decision makers, developers, the public, consultants, etc.) with
outline information for an integrated holistic approach to sustainable
building design. ENB Guidelines identify ten major sustainability
Abu Dhabi Corniche.
elements that need to be addressed through a variety of design criteria.
These are: water; energy use; indoor environmental quality; ecology;
management; transport; pollution; materials; waste management;
and land use.
Developers as well as consultants and selected government
entities have also been invited to evaluate the updated interim
community guidelines as part of an ongoing pilot programme. The
test phase will apply to selected community projects in the Emirate
of Abu Dhabi that are being reviewed by the UPC. The IECG will be
revised and final Estidama guidelines are scheduled for publication in
early 2009.
The Estidama management team is also working on publishing the
third key component of the programme, the Estidama Existing
Building Guidelines. It will also use a pearl rating system similar
to, but not confined to, the system that was launched in May 2008
alongside the New Building Guidelines.

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 Saadiyat Island, which is
being developed by TDIC, has
a budget of more than Dh80.7
billion (US$22 billion).
In a series of measures
announced in
December, Abu Dhabi
went on the offensive
in terms of boosting
investor confidence,
ensuring that an
already steady real
estate sector is further
strengthened and
underlined its plans to
stay on course to meet
the broader goals of
the UAE's 2012 plan.
Significant Projects
A great deal of money has already been invested in infrastructure in
Abu Dhabi, particularly in projects to regenerate the centre of the
city, Aldar Properties flagship extensive Central Market development
being a prime example. However, much more investment is being
pledged to realise the potential of the master plan and at least
Dh734 billion (US$200 billion) will be pumped into various projects in
the coming five years, with government investment constituting only
40 per cent of the total spending, in line with its policy to move
from infrastructure provider to regulator.
The sheer scale of these combined projects is remarkable. Land
reclamation features prominently in many of the coastal developments.
But this is on a much smaller scale than in Dubai because Abu Dhabi is
making ample use of some of the natural islands adjacent to the
capital for development purposes.
Sorouh Real Estate's master plan for Lulu Island, reclaimed land
in front of the Corniche, features high-end, low-rise development
with large open spaces and easy access to a wide range of services,
facilities and community leisure activities. Transport options will
include a bridge, underground tunnel, monorail and water taxis.
Mubadala are working with MGM Mirage to develop the MGM Grand
Abu Dhabi, the centrepiece of the Mina Zayed development and a key
part of Abu Dhabi’s tourism strategy. The project will include a
10,000-seat indoor arena with a 3000-seat outdoor amphitheatre,
 INFRASTRUCTURE 153

part of a 150-acre urban waterfront high-end retail, dining and

entertainment venue. The existing dhows and fish market will
be retained and accommodated on adjacent land. The design and
planning stages of the project are already under way. Construction
will commence in 2009, with phase one opening in 2012 (log on to
www.mubadala.ae and www.mgmmirage.com).
Meanwhile, Mubadala's property and hospitality division is filling Land reclamation
in land around Sowwah Island, which, as outlined above, is set to features prominently in
become the capital's new financial centre with ready access to the many coastal
mainland and surrounding islands of Abu Dhabi. developments. But Abu
Saadiyat Island, probably the region’s most exciting offshore
Dhabi is also making
development, has a budget of more than Dh80.7 billion (US$22
ample use of some of
billion). The project will be developed in three phases, finishing in
the natural islands
2018. As well as the prestigious Cultural District described above, the
island development includes 19 kilometres of beachfront, 29 hotels, adjacent to the capital
three marinas, 8000 residential villas and more than 38,000 for development
apartments, three harbours, a park, golf course and sailing club. purposes.
Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) has already
launched a limited phase one release of its impressive Saadiyat
Beach Residences in Saadiyat Beach District, one of seven distinct
neighbourhoods that will skirt the championship Saadiyat Beach
Golf Course. TDIC is on track with its construction schedule, which
will see the St Regis resort open in early 2010 and the first phase
of Saadiyat Beach villas being handed over to owners towards the
end of that year.
Saadiyat Island has been named by international tourism scouts
as one of the world's top ten emerging 'trendy' destinations and
the island recently topped a poll of 167,000 travel professionals
worldwide, including more than 110,000 travel agents, to earn the
fourteenth World Travel Awards’ mantle of ‘The World’s Leading
Tourism Development Project.’
Other signature projects in the TDIC property portfolio include the
landmark 35-storey downtown Grand Corniche Hotel and Residences;
the Lagoon Club, a five-star beach resort convention centre and
office/residential complex; Emirates Pearl Hotel and serviced
apartments; Angsana Eastern Mangrove Resorts and Spa, a delightful
eco-retreat; Park Rotana mixed-use development; the five-star Abu
Dhabi Creek Business Resorts; and Abu Dhabi Golf Hotel Residences
and Spa. TDIC also set an environmental example by ensuring that the

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154 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
TDIC manages an extensive
property portfolio with many
prestigious projects
under development
throughout the emirate.
Five new draft laws will
control all details of
real estate ownership
and organisation in
Abu Dhabi, resulting in
an integrated system of
real estate legislation.
design of its new office headquarters in Abu Dhabi is being built to
the highest standards in sustainable development.
Aldar Properties is currently involved in at least Dh264.24 billion
(US$72 billion) worth of development projects in Abu Dhabi. These
include the Dh47.71 billion (US$13 billion) Al Raha Beach project on
the mainland coast, a huge, 11-kilometres-long, mixed-use waterfront
development that will eventually house 120,000 people. Al Raha Beach,
which is on track for completion in 2014, comprises 11 precincts and
has a total development area of 12 million square metres. Serviced
water taxis or the LRT (light rail transportation) will provide access
to the wider community.
Nearby is the Yas Island development, a massive Dh143.13 billion
(US$39 billion) mixed-use project. The island will have a total
developed area about one-third the size of Abu Dhabi Island, with
Aldar's three theme parks, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros
Theme Park and Water Park, providing a focal point for marinas,
hotels, entertainment facilities and residences. Aldar is on schedule to
finish phase one infrastructure work on the entertainment destination,
with the remaining scheduled for completion well before the race
track plays host to the 2009 Formula One Etihad Airways Abu
Dhabi Grand Prix. Other Aldar projects include Motor World, a
haven for motoring enthusiasts on a 3.5 million square metre site
close to Abu Dhabi airport.
Two distinctive commercial and residential towers, to be completed
in the last quarter of 2010, will be key features of the Dh8 billion
(US$2.18 billion) Capital Centre development surrounding Abu Dhabi
National Exhibition Centre. The business and residential micro-city
will include the state-of-the art exhibition centre, a 2.4 kilometre
marina development, and a gravity defying, iconic feature tower
known as Capital Gate.
Capitala, the Abu Dhabi-based real estate developer formed
through a joint venture between Mubadala and the Singapore-based
CapitaLand, is developing a substantial and innovative mixed-use
project as one of the key elements of the 1.4 million square metre
Arzanah scheme, the high-profile residential development taking
shape in the Grand Mosque District. Arzanah surrounds Zayed Sports
City and features a waterfront and canal weaving throughout
luxurious high-rise apartment towers and family villas, communal
gardens, and extensive walking and cycling trails. Contracts have been
 INFRASTRUCTURE 155

awarded for the five-tower Rihan Heights, the first phase of the project, Demand for residential
which is scheduled for completion by 2012. units in Abu Dhabi will
Reem Island is being developed by Sorouh Real Estate and a outstrip supply until
number of other property developers. Residential, commercial and the end of 2011 as the
recreational centres will be accompanied by gardens, museums, an
population grows and
aquarium and amusement parks for children. The Reem master plan
household size shrinks
started with a maximum residential population of 344,000, but this is
in the emirate.
to be reduced to 250,000.
Surouh is developing the Gate District on Reem, a cluster of
eight towers located at the entrance to Shams Abu Dhabi. Other
Surouh projects in Abu Dhabi include Alghadeer, an integrated
multidimensional mixed-use development in Saih As Sidairah between
Abu Dhabi and Dubai, which is expected to house around 18,000
people; Surouh’s Sky Tower is destined to be the highest skyscraper in
Abu Dhabi and Surouh is also responsible for the Dh729 million Golf
Gardens luxury residential development adjoining Abu Dhabi Golf
Club. In addition, Surouh is building Saraya Abu Dhabi, a Dh3.5 billion
mixed-use development in Abu Dhabi City.
Hydra Properties has completed the foundation work for its six-
building Hydra Avenue Towers in Al Reem’s City of Light ahead of
schedule and the Towers project is listed for completion by 2011.
Hydra Properties are also developing Hydra Village at Al Reef City, an Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City
has been billed as the
eco-project of 2500 villas, which is scheduled for handover to end- world’s greenest city.
customers in 2010.
A Dh80.74 billion (US$22 billion) budget has been allocated for Abu
Dhabi Future Energy Company’s ambitious 6-square-kilometre Masdar
City project. Masdar and WWF have entered into a Sustainability
Action Plan for what has been billed as the world’s greenest city. The
aim is to exceed the ten sustainability principles of 'One Planet
Living', a global initiative launched by the WWF (Worldwide Fund for
Nature) and environmental consultancy BioRegional. These targets
are to be achieved by the time Masdar City is completed and fully
functioning in 2015.
With a budget of Dh23.85 billion (US$6.5 billion), Sheikh Mohammed
bin Zayed City will comprise 374 residential and commercial buildings
as well as the associated infrastructure and entertainment facilities.
The development is on the Abu Dhabi–Al Ain highway.
Bani Yas Investment & Development (BID) Company, established
in 2005 as a majority owned subsidiary of Baniyas Sports Club, has

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The objective of the UAE’s urban
planning is to provide the
infrastructure that will attract
tourism, trade and industry.
 INFRASTRUCTURE 157

launched a multi-use real estate project in Abu Dhabi’s Bani Yas City
budgeted at Dh2.2 billion (US$600 million). The 108-hectare Bawabat
Al Sharq project will provide the community with modern residential,
medical, educational, commercial and entertainment facilities in
addition to a brand new headquarters and sports facilities for the club,
which includes a FIFA-standard football stadium with a seating
capacity for over 20,000 spectators. The design and major plans have
Urban planning for Al Ain
been in the works since early 2007, and phase one of the project is
seeks to preserve its image as
due to be completed during the first quarter of 2010. a traditional garden city.
Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC), in partnership with the
Emirates Foundation and in accordance with the principles of Plan
Abu Dhabi 2030, has launched an extensive revitalisation scheme for
the communities of Shahama and Bahia in Abu Dhabi, located along
the Abu Dhabi–Dubai highway. The area planning is addressing
issues ranging from housing and community amenities, through to
transportation, hospitals, schools, shops, landscaping, and infrastructure.
This and related projects involve consultation between planners and
members of the community to research community needs.
UPC's objective is to set up an advanced digital network concept
to be called 'city e-motion' that will provide a platform of contacts
among generations from all over the emirate and create an
interactive relationship between UPC and Abu Dhabi citizens,
carrying on the tradition of consultation and consensus inherent in
historical government.

Eastern and Western Regions

The UPC has also focused attention on the rest of the emirate
outside Abu Dhabi City and environs: city planners are drawing up
an ambitious new blueprint for developing Al Ain and the Western
Region (recently renamed Al Gharbia). The prospect of large-scale
development in Al Ain coincides with the city's bid to be selected as
a World Heritage Site by Unesco.
The challenge in Al Ain is to redevelop a city of 300,000 residents
with a density as low as one household per hectare. Planners will also
seek to protect the traditional image of Al Ain as a green haven for the
rest of the emirate and as an authentic Arab city.
Designs for a Dh3.67 billion (US$1 billion) unique concept, Al Ain
Wildlife Park and Resort, echoes these aspirations. Occupying 900
hectares at the foothills of Jebel Hafit, this is a mixed-use development

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158 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
Large-scale redevelopment
is under way in Al Ain.
Liwa’s tourism potential
is being boosted by the
opening of a number of
top-class resorts.
firmly rooted in the heritage and culture of Al Ain. The first phase
is due for completion by the end of 2010.
Aldar Properties has also revised their extensive mixed-use Noor Al
Ain project in the heart of Al Ain to meet the new guidelines developed
by UPC.
Al Gharbia covers a staggering 60,000 square kilometres, 83 per
cent of Abu Dhabi emirate and 71 per cent of the total landmass of the
UAE, but it only contains 8 per cent of the population. Construction,
public administration, agriculture, and oil and gas are the main high-
level economic activities in this region. An estimated Dh98 billion has
already been pledged for infrastructure, tourism, and economic
development projects to enable economic growth and raise the
standard of living for Al Gharbia's residents. Tourism, especially eco-
tourism centred on the area’s unique coastline and offshore islands, is
a key feature of the radical regeneration programme orchestrated
by the Western Region Development Council (WRDC), the central
coordinating body for development in the region.
The first phase of TDIC’s Discovery Islands destination opened in
October 2008. This will be spread over eight adjacent islands and an
onshore gate near Jebel Dhanna, approximately 250 kilometres from
Abu Dhabi City. The new 64-room Desert Islands Resort and Spa is on
Sir Bani Yas Island, the former private eco-retreat of the UAE's late
President HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The island is noted
for its spectacular wildlife park, unspoilt beaches, dramatic desert
terrain, significant archaeological sites and extensive mangrove
reserves. Desert Islands is expected to generate Dh88.82 million
(US$326 million) in tourism revenues when fully operational by 2020
and create a total of 6500 jobs.
Al Gharbia’s tourism potential will be given a further boost with the
planned September 2009 opening of the deluxe Qasr Al Sarab retreat
in the Liwa desert in the Empty Quarter (Rub al-Khali). Construction
work on the TDIC luxury resort is progressing well. Two new hotels are
also planned for the city of Madinat Zayed in the centre of the emirate.
DUBAI
Efforts are also being made in the other constituent emirates of the
UAE to ensure that development is planning-led, as opposed to
demand-led, which is the case in many of the world’s major cities.
 INFRASTRUCTURE 159

As already emphasised, the objective is to provide the infrastructure

that will attract tourism, trade and industry, including valuable
service industries, at the same time creating living sustainable
communities.
Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 (DSP) recognises that urban planning
is a prerequisite to optimise land use in order to meet the needs
of sustainable development while preserving natural resources. To
implement the strategy, Dubai’s Urban Planning Committee, which
includes key stakeholders such as Dubai Municipality, the Road and
Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai Electricity and Water Authority
(Dewa), Dubai Land Department, and The Executive Office, as well
as developers like Dubai Holdings, Emaar and Nakheel, drew up
the Dubai Urban Development Framework (DUDF), an integrated
master plan that will offer a comprehensive roadmap for Dubai's
future up to 2020 and beyond, hopefully solving the main concerns
of today's urban life. Key elements of the framework will include
integrated land use and mobility, housing provision, economic
and demographic growth, urban character and design, heritage
management, integrated community facilities provision, civic harmony
and sustainability strategy.
Dubai Municipality was re-organised in January 2008 in line with
the requirements of the DSP and the Municipality's Strategic Plan
2007–2011, to ensure a smooth and effective implementation of the
plans and programmes envisioned in the DSP.
More than 33 per cent of Dubai's budget expenditure in 2009 will
be earmarked for infrastructure projects.

Green Building Code

From 2009, all proposed building plans in Dubai must comply with a From 2009, all
new Green Building Code being introduced by Dubai Municipality. proposed building
The Emirates Green Building Council (EGBC) has already launched a plans in Dubai must
building sustainability assessment system for the UAE based on the comply with a new
US Green Building Council's (US GBC) Leadership in Energy and Green Building Code
Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, with modifications being introduced by
made to account for local environmental conditions. Dubai Municipality.
The main modifications include an increased emphasis on water
conservation. The potential total possible points have also been raised
from 69 to 72. Feedback from a pilot programme run by the EGBC
will be used to update the rating system.

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 Burj Dubai, destined to be the world’s
tallest skyscraper, overlooks the
Old Town quarter of Downtown Dubai.
 INFRASTRUCTURE 161

Outstanding Projects
Dubai has gained a reputation for executing innovative infrastructural
projects, The Palm trilogy and The World being two of the most
famous in this category. The property developer Nakheel, a division
of Dubai World, has been responsible for most of these offshore
extravaganzas. Construction began in 2001 on Palm Jumeirah. Today,
more than 2000 homes are occupied and work is continuing on the
trunk section. New developments include the construction of a palatial
pier to house QE2, which travelled to Dubai from Southampton in
November 2008. The plan is to turn the liner into a luxury floating
hotel to complement the spectacular Atlantis Hotel, which opened
in 2008, the forthcoming Cirque du Soleil and a series of other
impressive projects.
Nakheel commenced construction in 2002 on the Palm Jebel Ali,
which is twice the size of Palm Jumeirah and is expected to Nakheel announced in
accommodate 1.7 million people by 2020. Palm Deira was announced December 2008 that it
in 2004 and, at five times the size of Palm Jebel Ali, will be the was delaying long-term
largest man-made island in the world. Infrastructure development infrastructure work on
for Palm Deira is on schedule. some of its projects,
Nakheel has also completed land reclamation on The World project,
including parts of
the cluster of 300 man-made exclusive islands that were built in the
Jumeirah Garden City,
shape of the world map about 4 kilometres off the coast of Dubai.
Over 50 per cent have been sold. the Trump International
Nakheel is again expanding Dubai's coastline with the launch of a Hotel, the Tower on
massive real estate development, The Universe, a cluster of large coral- Palm Jumeirah, and the
shaped islands on 3000 hectares of land, which will spread from Palm planned kilometre-high
Jumeirah to Palm Deira and will take 15 to 20 years to develop. tower. Some projects at
Nakheel is also responsible for the redevelopment of Dubai's Port the Waterfront have
Rashid and has commenced reclamation on Dubai Promenade, a also been affected and
waterfront community that will create a peninsula along the Dubai reclamation work on
shoreline adjacent to Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC). This
Palm Deira and
will be anchored by a five-star, wheel-shaped hotel.
construction on Palm
In addition, Nakheel is involved in the regeneration of Jebel Ali
Jebel is expected to
Village, which was originally built in 1977 to provide accommodation
for expatriates working on construction of the Jebel Ali Port. The project slow down. Limitless
will be completed by 2013. too, revealed that it is
Nearby, the Waterfront development will transform 1.4 billion reviewing its
square feet of desert and sea into an international community for an construction schedule
estimated population of 1.5 million people. for the Arabian Canal.

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162 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
Real estate developer
Limitless is carrying out
excavation work on the
75-kilometre-long,
150-metre-wide
Arabian Canal that will
link Palm Jebel Ali and
Palm Jumeirah.
Grading work on the third phase of Dubai World Central (DWC), the
massive, 140-square kilometre multi-phase development under
construction near Jebel Ali, has been completed. Phase one grading
included Dubai Logistics City (DLC), whilst phase two grading was
spread across areas earmarked for Al Maktoum International Airport
and parts of DWC Residential City, DLC's headquarters and office park.
Real estate developer Limitless is carrying out excavation work on
the Dh40.37 billion (US$11 billion), 75-kilometre-long 150-metre-wide
Arabian Canal that will encircle Dubai World Central, bisect Dubai
Industrial City and practically link Palm Jebel Ali and Palm Jumeirah.
During 2008, Industrial City (DI), the third largest non-real estate
project in Dubai, successfully completed a comprehensive wildlife
relocation programme, transferring over 900 animals, including
gazelles and reptiles, from the project site of the largest industrial
destination in Dubai to Al Marmoom Conservation Reserve. The
extensive operation took place ahead of the commencement of
construction work across DI’s six industrial zones.
Property developer Emaar’s Burj Dubai is a Dh3.67 billion (US$1
billion) tower that is destined to be the world's tallest skyscraper.
The tower had reached a new record height of 688 meters (2257.2
feet) by mid-2008, surpassing North Dakota, USA's KVLY-TV mast
(628.8 metres; 2063 feet) in April 2008. The ultimate height is being
kept secret. When completed, Burj Dubai will meet all four criteria
listed by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, which
classifies the world's tallest structures. However, by then it may have
competition from Nakheel’s newly launched Harbour and Tower,
which the company is claiming will be the tallest in the world.
Burj Dubai anchors Emaar's Dh73 billion (US$20 billion) Downtown
Burj Dubai featuring the Old Town quarter and Souk al-Bahar, a new
leisure and retail destination set within the context of a traditional
Arabian souk, phase one of which was opened in 2008. The Palace
Hotel, The Armani Hotel and the massive shopping and entertainment
complex Dubai Mall, which also opened in 2008, with its adjoining
five-star hotel, The Address, are also integral parts of the Burj
Dubai environs.
The third tallest building in the world may also be sited in Dubai.
Anara Tower, being developed by Tameer next to the American
University of Dubai on Sheikh Zayed Road, will be 650 metres high
(or even slightly higher according to the developers).
 INFRASTRUCTURE 163

The Meydan project is under construction near Nad Al Sheba. This

includes a massive racecourse, a hotel, golf courses, shopping and
entertainment centres, modern stables, Godolphin racing gallery
and a 4-kilometre canal running from Dubai Creek to the racecourse.
This project is scheduled for opening in 2010 to host the Dubai
World Cup.
Dubai Properties has ambitious plans to build an entire city in the
desert at a cost of over Dh220.2 billion (US$60 billion). Mohammed
bin Rashid Gardens will extend over 74.322 million square metres
and incorporate educational, financial and commercial facilities, civic
buildings and tourist landmarks connected by a series of landscaped
parklands. Four centres, or 'houses’, The House of Humanity, The
House of Commerce, The House of Wisdom and The House of Nature,
will host world-class facilities in their respective fields.

Dubailand
As we have seen, leisure and entertainment facilities are a very Dubailand, destined to
important aspect of the UAE’s tourism strategy and Dubailand, a be the region’s premier
massive Dh235 billion (US$64 billion), 279 million square metres leisure and
complex, will be a major player in this sector. Dubailand will entertainment facility,
eventually contain 45 major projects and more than 200 sub-projects, will contain 45 major
encompassing theme parks, sports complexes, themed well-being
projects and more than
retreats, cultural, ecological and historical projects, hotels and residential
200 sub-projects,
accommodation and, of course, shopping and entertainment.
The development is being built in four phases, with the entire encompassing theme
project scheduled for completion by 2020. However, the development parks, sporting,
of roads and infrastructure will continue until 2010 and finishing commercial and
touches are already being applied to some areas. To date, Dubailand residential facilities.
comprises 24 projects being developed by third party developers, plus
Tatweer-owned attractions such as Global Village, Universal Studios,
Dreamworks, Six Flags, Marvel, Freej and Legoland.
Ground was broken in August 2008 for the 650,000 square metre
Universal Studios. Construction will take place in three phases,
commencing with the theme park, retail area, and four hotels in 2008.
When completed in December 2010, Universal Studios Dubailand
will join the family of world-renowned theme parks in Hollywood,
Florida, Japan and Singapore.
DreamWorks Animation signed up in January 2008 to a multi-
billion dollar strategic alliance with Tatweer to develop a range of

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164 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
Activity and theme parks
feature prominently in the
UAE’s tourism strategy.
tourism and leisure projects, the highlight of which will be the 464,515
square metre DreamWorks Animation-branded park.
In April 2008, real estate concern Al Ahli announced a deal with
Marvel Entertainment to bring Marvel's full library of superheroes
to Dubai for a Dh3.67 billion (US$1 billion) theme park. Al Ahli
also unveiled another long-term partnership with Nickelodeon.
Dreamworks, Marvel and Nickelodeon are scheduled to open in 2012.
In June 2008, Paramount signed a licensing deal worth Dh 9.175
billion (US$2.5 billion) with Ruwaad Holdings for a series of parks
and rides and a conceptual master plan has also been developed for Six
Flags Dubailand, a 464,515 square metre multi-billion dirham theme
park. The first phase of the project is expected to be ready in 2011.
Another massive theme park, this time based on the popular locally
based cartoon ‘Freej’, is to become the centrepiece of Dubailand.
Freej, renamed ‘Hayyak’, or ‘Come In’, features four cartoon characters,
 INFRASTRUCTURE 165

a group of Emirati grandmothers whose misadventures have proven

to be a hit. It will be the only development that focuses solely on Arab
culture and will include a recreation of old Dubai anchored by a Middle
Eastern garden. Hayyak will open in 2013.
In May 2008 Dubailand’s Sports City released its first commercial
property, The Gateway, iconic twin towers located at the entrance.
Sports City’s Tiger Woods Golf Course opened in September 2008,
the Manchester United Academy in October 2008 and the Formula
One theme park in Motor City is scheduled to open in 2009.
Phase one of the gigantic Mall of Arabia in Dubailand’s City of
Arabia, measuring 464,515 square metres gross leasable area (GLA),
is well under way. Phase two will have a further 557,418 (6 million
square feet) of GLA.
Integral infrastructure works have been completed on the 1.858
million square metres City of Arabia site and superstructure work
has commenced on the project’s main components. City of Arabia
will have a phased opening commencing at the end of 2010.
All phases of Dubailand’s Remraam community have commenced
on schedule. With over 100 apartment buildings, a dedicated shopping
mall and extensive community facilities to build, the Remraam
community is adjacent to the 10-kilometre Bawadi Boulevard and
Arabian Ranches.

PROJECTS IN OTHER EMIRATES

The northern emirates are also undergoing a major transformation to
one degree or another, depending on their size and inclination.
Sharjah City and emirate, the third largest of the seven emirates,
is tapping in to the worldwide property boom with Al Hanoo Holding’s
largest project, Al Nujoom Islands, the star attraction. This Dh18
billion (US$4.90 billion) project is being developed on a 3-kilometre
stretch of the Arabian Gulf coast in the Hamriya area of Sharjah.
Phase one construction and phase two of infrastructure was
initiated in 2008. Among other developments, Sharjah City Centre
shopping complex is undergoing a major expansion, renovation and
redevelopment programme. Set for completion in December 2008,
the mall will be home to an additional 22 new shops, including
internationally renowned anchor stores.
The launch of freehold developments in tiny Ajman has brought
a flurry of activity to this historically underdeveloped emirate.

@ www.uaeinteract.com/urban
166 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

Spearheaded by Ajman Development and Investment Authority,

efforts are being made to ensure that urban planning is undertaken in
a sustainable manner so that Ajman can develop its own unique
identity. Ajman government is also setting up a tourism authority to
market the emirate. Four new hotels will be built by 2010, the museum
is undergoing an expansion programme and there are three shopping
malls under construction. Plans are in place for a heritage centre
and two old-style souks.
Aqaar, a private development company that was formed in 2006 in
association with Ajman Development and Investment Authority, is
responsible for the Dh2.7 billion (US$735.7 million) Ajman 1, a 72,000
square metre complex consisting of 16 towers, a hotel, a convention
centre and leisure and retail amenities. Phase one should be
completed by early 2010. The emirate also recently unveiled the
redevelopment of its marina in conjunction with Tanmiyat, a Saudi
company. The project will include 500 berths for yachts, restaurants,
shops and housing for thousands of people.
Al Zorah, a self- However, this is dwarfed by a Dh220 billion (US$63 billion) project
contained master- being developed by Al Zorah Development, a joint venture between
planned city with free the government and the Beirut-based Solidere International. The
zone and freehold project, which has free zone and freehold status, will cover 12 square
status, intends to keep kilometres of coastline and include a self-contained master-planned
city with a built-up area of 22 million square metres. Al Zorah intends
its ecological footprint
to keep its ecological footprint to a minimum with environmentally
to a minimum.
friendly design and energy-efficient infrastructure.
Unfortunately, development in the northern emirates has been
compromised by a shortage of electricity and water, leading to the
suspension of projects such as Al Salaam City, a Dh31.19 billion
(US$8.5 billion) mixed-use project in Umm al-Qaiwain by Tameer
Holding. While planning for new power and desalination plants
is under way, it will be some time before these are finished, and
some delays in completion of a number of the larger projects can
be expected.
The government of the northernmost emirate, Ra's al-Khaimah,
is actively pursuing a programme of economic renewal as is evidenced
by the groundbreaking of several major projects in real estate, tourism
and industry. Again, freehold rights and the granting of free zone
privileges have been a hugely stimulating factor in the mushrooming
of projects in this emirate.
 INFRASTRUCTURE 167

RAK Investment Authority (RAKIA) has launched the Gateway

City, a Dh3.7 billion (US1 billion) development venture. Located on
Emirates Road, the project offers 5.57 million square metres of land
for real estate developers to build residential and commercial properties
offering freehold ownership: 60 per cent of the project area will be
dedicated to services and parkland. The project will be constructed
in at least five phases, the first three of which are scheduled for
completion by the end of 2009.
Ra’s al-Khaimah-based property developer Rakeen, master planner
and the real estate development arm of the Ra’s al-Khaimah
government, unveiled a new shopping complex and office tower
in early 2008, key components of the ‘Bab Al Bahr’ development.
Bab Al Bahr is the inaugural project of the Dh 6.6 billion (US$1.8
billion) Al Marjan Island mixed-use project being developed on 2.7
million square metres of a recently reclaimed island that extends
Ra’s al-Khaimah’s Bab
for 4 kilometres into the Arabian Gulf. Aside from a wide range of
Al Bahr development is
residential and commercial options, Bab Al Bahr also features a world-
class resort hotel, as well as leisure and entertainment facilities. the inaugural project
Reclamation work has commenced on Dana Island, another major on Al Marjan, a recently
mixed-use Rakeen project that was launched in 2008. Rakeen is also reclaimed island
involved in a host of other upscale projects in Ra’s al-Khaimah, such as that extends for 4
the RAK Financial City, RAK Convention Centre, Azure Hotel, Jebel Al kilometres into the
Jais mountain resort and the Banyan Tree resort. Arabian Gulf.
RAK Properties developments in Ra’s al-Khaimah include Julfar
Towers and Mina Al Arab, a Dh10 billion mixed-use waterfront resort
community. Another significant development is Noor City, a Dh3.67
billion (US$1 billion) island near the Kuwaiti Street Corniche that will
feature three resorts, cafes and boutiques, and will accommodate
more than 150,000 people.
Saraya Islands, based on a 7-kilometre-long natural island that runs
parallel to the coast of Ra’s al-Khaimah, is emerging as a mixed-use
resort destination. The first phase of the project is expected to be
operational in 2011.
Two new industrial zones will also be created: Al Ghail will specialise
in a mix of light and medium industry, with heavy industry destined for
Saqr Port where quarries and cement factories are already located. To
balance economy with environment, a large wildlife reserve is planned
for the island of Hulayla, south of the port. The RAK government
has also pledged to continue to address its electricity shortage
problems, and plans to build a power plant near the industrial zones.

@ www.uaeinteract.com/urban
 In the stunningly beautiful Emirate of Fujairah, the real estate
emphasis is naturally on improving tourism infrastructure, with
several new five-star hotels having opened their doors to the public
in recent years, and many more under construction.
Abu Dhabi-based Mina Al Fajer Real Estate LLC is developing a
Dh600 million mountain-sea resort property near Dibba that will be
completed before the end of 2009, giving Fujairah the first of what
is expected to be a growing number of world-class, exclusive real
The picturesque
estate projects.
Emirate of Fujairah is
Abu Dhabi-based Escan Pjsc’s developments in Fujairah include Al
developing a growing Fanar Towers, a 30-floor residential tower, a 25-floor commercial
number of world-class, tower, and a 300-room hotel in the centre of Fujairah City, as well
exclusive real as developments in the extremely scenic Wadi Al Wurrayah Valley,
estate projects. north of Fujairah.
Several new hotels are also under construction in the northern Al
Aqqah area, close to Dibba, where the Al Aqqah Meridien, a Rotana
hotel and a JAL hotel have already paved the way for what is intended
to become the focus of the emirate’s tourist industry, while the
offshore Dana (Pearl) development will provide resort-style living,
surrounded by the waters of the Gulf of Oman.
 INFRASTRUCTURE 169

ROAD & RAIL

TRANSPORT ABU DHABI

In recognition of the central role that transport occupies in supporting
and sustaining growth, Abu Dhabi Department of Transport (DoT) was
established in 2006 to ensure fully coordinated planning in all aspects
of transport policy and development in Abu Dhabi emirate. Previously,
Abu Dhabi’s transport responsibilities were handled by a variety of
entities across both the local and federal governments.
DoT has formulated a five-year strategic plan for 2008–2012, in
accordance with Abu Dhabi Policy Agenda 2008–2012 and Plan Abu
Dhabi 2030. Strategies for motor transport, maritime, civil aviation
and public transport are being integrated to deliver an effective
transport system that contributes to the economic growth, quality of
life and environmental sustainability of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
A Surface Transport Master Plan (STMP) for Abu Dhabi was
commissioned by DoT in February 2008 to translate the conceptual Plan Abu Dhabi 2030
transport strategy into a detailed master plan and implementation sets out a schedule for
programme. The objective of the year-long process is to evaluate developing a world-
and draw up a comprehensive set of plans that will reflect leading class transport system
international best practice, and will deliver a world-class sustainable that includes a
transport system. hierarchy of streets
The STMP as a whole has been designed as a consultative process distributing local traffic
in order to ensure that stakeholders and the general public have the while connecting key
opportunity to contribute to the master plan and a dedicated website points within the city; a
at www.transportabudhabi.ae encourages feedback from the public. light-rail metro
As far as public transport is concerned, a metro system, high-
network for everyday
speed rail throughout Abu Dhabi and linking to other emirates,
and commuter travel; a
buses, trams and water taxis are all under consideration and it is
frequent and reliable
highly likely that mass transit will feature prominently when the
local tram/bus service;
STMP is released in February 2009. Much discussion has already
a high-speed rail line to
taken place on the need to introduce the high-speed rail system
by the year 2015. connect Abu Dhabi
Plan Abu Dhabi 2030 called for at least two high-capacity metro with the rest of the
lines, with one originating from Saadiyat Island and Al Mina, turning UAE; and large parking
left (east) at Central Station and following Airport Road to the Grand surfaces to be moved
Mosque district, Capital district, and Raha Beach. The other line would underground.

@ www.uaeinteract.com/transport
 Light-rail projects under way
in the UAE will help to relieve
traffic congestion.
cross the downtown area from north-east to north-west, connecting
Al Reem and Al Sowwah to Central Station and the Marina Mall
development.
The document also called for 'a fine-grained network of surface light
rail, streetcars and buses' to make sure there would never be more
than a five-minute walk required by those using public transport.
Work is already taking place on some new public transport
systems: Aldar Properties has begun laying the groundwork for
seven of 16 stations earmarked for a tramline at the Al Raha Beach
development and the DoT are reserving space for a tram loop
and a metro on Yas Island, the future home of the Formula One
motor-racing Grand Prix.
DoT is also focusing on upgrading existing public transport. The
first steps toward an integrated system took place in 2008, when
buses began operating on four routes in Abu Dhabi. The government
plans to have 21 routes operating by 2009 and to have 1360 new
buses on Abu Dhabi roads by 2010, assisted by sophisticated
passenger information systems and journey planners. DoT has
also awarded the contract for 550 air-conditioned bus shelters to
enhance the experience for travellers..
Road projects worth Dh20 billion (US$5.44 billion) are under way
in Abu Dhabi, including the network of highways that will be required
to service the massive new real estate, tourism and industrial
developments taking place in the city.
 INFRASTRUCTURE 171

The new road projects are focused on facilitating traffic flow on

main arteries into and out of the capital, such as Al Salam Street and
Airport Road. The largest single project in terms of cost will transform
Al Salam Street: a Dh 3 billion (US$817 million), 3 kilometre-long
tunnel which will eventually run under the city is being dug out on the
eastern coastal flank of the capital. The project also involves a 500
metre flyover linking the city to nearby Reem Island. Once the tunnel
is complete in 2011, motorists coming from Dubai and other emirates
can take the expanded surface road into the tunnel, which will run
underground from the capital's north-eastern entrance, just under
Al Salam Street, straight to Port (Mina) Zayed and other coastal areas
in the north-eastern part of the city. The contract also includes the
construction of additional local roads from Al Salam Street to
neighbouring areas as well as the construction of other tunnels linking
Corniche Street with Al Salam Street.
Abu Dhabi’s second massive road project is under way along
Corniche Street. The first phase, which has already been completed,
included the construction of the new Corniche East Street, the
expansion of the old road, and the construction of three tunnels to
facilitate traffic movement at main junctions. The project's second
phase on the western part of Corniche Street has commenced.
Aldar and TDIC, along with DoT and UPC, have formed a
consortium to construct the Dh1.83 billion (US$500 million), ten-lane
Shahama–Saadiyat highway and incorporated bridges, which is
scheduled for completion in summer 2009. The motorway and
bridges will link the Central Business District, Saadiyat Island, Yas
Island, Al Raha and the airport, relieving congestion in the Salam
The new bridge
Street corridor. The design makes provision for future mass transit
linking Saadiyat Island
options in the central median.
with Abu Dhabi Island,
The bridge linking Saadiyat Island with Abu Dhabi Island is well
under way. Set to become one of the world's great non-suspension which is nearing
bridges, the concrete span carrying five lanes of traffic in each completion, will
direction as well as two future passenger rail system tracks will be one of the
connect Saadiyat Island with the Mina Zayed main port area, world’s great non-
creating a five-minute drive access between the two. suspension bridges.
Work is also under way on the Dh901 million (US$245 million), 40-
metre-high Sheikh Zayed Bridge, the third strategic crossing for the
island of Abu Dhabi after Al Maqta and Al Musaffah bridges, which
will also relieve congestion.

@ www.uaeinteract.com/roads
172 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
Dubai has the highest
rate of car ownership of
any city in the world,
with one car for every
1.84 residents, giving
an average vehicle
occupancy rate of 1.7.
Abu Dhabi has completed a fully serviced 51-kilometre-long network
of internal roads at Khalifa City (A) at a total cost of Dh185 million.
The project, which commenced in 2006, will cater for the expansion
of Khalifa City (A).
Improvements are also being made to a 327-kilometre, eight-lane
motorway, the longest in the country, linking the eastern parts of
Abu Dhabi emirate to the Saudi border. This will be completed by
2011 and will link Mafraq with Ghweifat, in the west, to assist with
the Al Gharbia regeneration scheme,
DUBAI
Dubai has the highest rate of car ownership of any city in the world,
with one car for every 1.84 residents, giving an average vehicle
occupancy rate of 1.7. It is not surprising, therefore, that reliance on
private transport is clogging the motorways of the emirate. However
Dubai’s Road Transport Authority (RTA) has initiated a transport
master plan, based on the Dubai Strategy Plan, which will see the
emirate spend about Dh80 billion (US$21.7 billion) by 2020 on
expansion of the road network and development of a mass transport
system, including Dubai Metro, buses and marine transport. The
challenge is to cope with the expected increase in population from the
current 1.4 million to 5.2 million by 2020.
Out of the Dh80.74 billion budget, Dh44.04 billion will be spent on
road development comprising some 500 kilometres of new roads and
90 interchanges; Dh24.22 billion is being spent on four lines of the
Dubai Metro; about Dh9.19 billion will be spent on a tram network,
Dh2.2 billion on the public transport bus system, and Dh1.83 billion is
being spent on development of a marine transport system.
More than Dh5 billion worth of RTA roads and bridges projects were
either completed or nearing completion by the end 2008. These
include the Arabian Ranches Interchange, phases three (A and B) of
Ra's Al Khor project, the upper deck of the Finance Centre Road,
Dubai Bypass Road, Al Nahda Bridge and Wafi Centre. It also includes
Phase one and two of widening of Al Ittihad project, Jumeirah Lakes
Interchange, and landscaping of Zaabeel, Jumeirah and other areas.
One of the biggest projects being carried out by the RTA is the
Dh1.7 billion Parallel Roads Project (parallel to Sheikh Zayed Road),
extending 108 kilometres from Sheikh Rashid Road in the north.
 INFRASTRUCTURE 173

The scheme also includes road improvements in the Business Bay The Dh15.5 billion
Crossing and Burj Dubai areas, as well as construction of 30 bridges, (US$4.2 billion) Dubai
two underpasses and 10 kilometres of surface roads. Metro project is the
Efforts to relieve traffic congestion in Dubai include investing Dh3 most ambitious part of
billion (US$ 817 million) to build the world's longest arched bridge the RTA's integrated
over Dubai Creek. The 15-metre-high bridge, which will be completed mass transport system.
in four years, will have 12 lanes with Dubai Metro’s Green Line running
through its centre.
RTA has already increased the number of lanes across Dubai Creek
from 19 in 2006 to 48 in 2008. The new Al Garhoud bridge, which is
now named after Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, was officially
opened early in 2008 following completion of construction of its 14
lanes in both directions.

Public Transport
The RTA is also pursuing a range of measures to optimise car use,
encourage use of public transport and integration of mass transit
modes, not only to relieve congestion but also for environmental
reasons. RTA research has revealed that public transport is used for
only 5 per cent of trips. The authority's challenge is to increase this to
between 30 and 35 per cent by 2020. Innovative policies include
incentivising car pooling, introducing deluxe coach services and
upgrading and extending the bus services, building air-conditioned
bus shelters, providing buses for women, improving the taxi service
and increasing use of marine transport. RTA is using the latest
technology to publicise these venture – see its car pooling website
www.sharekni.ae and entries on Youtube and Facebook.
A work team has also been formed to explore the substitution of
existing taxis and public buses with new environment-friendly
vehicles using hybrid engines and replacing the existing engines of
the abra ferry boats with CNG-operated engines.
RTA commissioned 70 double-decker buses to run on the Dubai-
Sharjah route in 2008 and will introduce 100 additional double-
deckers on Dubai’s internal roads in 2009. A deluxe coach service
between Dubai and Abu Dhabi commenced in 2008 and the
Dubai–Al Ain route will follow suit.
RTA’s plans include construction of a Dh400 million Public Bus
Depot. In March 2009 RTA will take delivery of the last of the 620

@ www.uaeinteract.com/transport
174 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
A technical and
engineering taskforce
has been set up by the
UAE Ministry of Public
Works to oversee
implementation of the
Dubai–Fujairah
highway.
buses it had ordered in 2007. A further 1616 buses are on order,
increasing the number of buses in service to 2500 by 2009. In
addition, 640 air-conditioned shelters are already operational in
many areas and the number of air-conditioned shelters will rise to
about 1000 by 2010.
The Dh15.5 billion (US$4.2 billion) Dubai Metro project is the most
ambitious part of the RTA's integrated mass transport system. The 52-
kilometre Red Line viaduct, which stretches the length of Sheikh
Zayed Road between Al Rashidiya and Jebel Ali, was completed in
August 2008 after round-the-clock work for three years. Laying out of
track and fitting out of stations is under way to meet the 9 September
2009 deadline. The Red Line will carry an estimated 27,000
passengers per hour in each direction on 42 trains, stopping at Burj
Dubai, Internet City and Jebel Ali among other stations.
Work started on the 22-kilometre Green Line, which will link Al
Qusais to Dubai Healthcare City, in 2006 and is scheduled for
completion in March 2010. RTA are also planning a 49-kilometre
Purple Line running the length of Al Khail Road to connect Dubai
International Airport with Al Maktoum Airport in Jebel Ali and a 50-
kilometre Blue Line, which will link Dubai International Airport to
Jebel Ali Airport, passing through Emirates Road.
In addition, at least eight to ten new monorails are being planned
in various part of Dubai, including the three Palm projects, Dubai
World Central Jebel Ali, Dubai Waterfront, International City.
NORTHERN EMIRATES
Transport initiatives between and in the other emirates that constitute
the federation are also proceeding apace. Much work has already
been completed to improve road connections between Dubai and
neighbouring Sharjah. A technical and engineering taskforce has
also been set up by the UAE Ministry of Public Works to oversee
implementation of the Dubai–Fujairah highway. The Dh1.2 billion
road, part of a series of strategic projects to improve the federal
road network, will reduce the distance between the two cities by
60 kilometres. The 45.4-kilometre-long dual carriage highway is
scheduled for completion by 2010. The UAE government also plans
to establish a rail-link stretching from Fujairah to Abu Dhabi.
In the meantime, Dubai RTA is introducing state-of-the-art inter-
 INFRASTRUCTURE 175

city buses to link Dubai with Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain, Ra’s
al-Khaimah and Fujairah. Other key cities and towns, such as Al-Ain,
Dhaid, Masafi and Jebel Ali, will also be covered by this service .
Internally, massive mixed-use developments in some of the northern
emirates necessitate a restructuring and upgrading of road systems.
For example, in Ra’s al-Khaimah the new Al Jais Mountain Road,
already under construction, will allow access from Emirates Road to
the summit of Al Jais on the Oman border where a new resort is
planned. It is estimated that the road will reach the 1900-metre
summit in two years.

AIRPORTS
IATA has estimated that the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
region will experience the largest growth in aviation in the world
between 2008 and 2011, almost 40 per cent more than the global
average. The Gulf countries are expected to spend in the region of
US$43 billion during this period, with airport projects in the UAE
alone costing close on US$30 billion.
This is hardly surprising: economically, the area is booming
with trade, travel and tourism being key factors in development;
geographically, the country’s reach is considerable, sweeping through
Africa and the Middle East and linking these regions to Europe,
Asia, Australia and the Americas.
Over Dh77.5 billion (US$28.4 billion) is being spent to develop Over Dh77.5 billion
seven airports in the UAE. The projects include Dh26 billion (US$7.08 (US$28.4 billion) is
billion) on Abu Dhabi International Airport; Dh16.5 billion (US$4.5 being spent to
billion) on Dubai International Airport; Dh36.7 billion (US$10 billion) develop seven
for the development of Al Maktoum International Airport at Jebel airports in the UAE.
Ali, part of the Dh121.1billion (US$33 billion) Dubai World Central
complex; Dh227.64 million (US$62 million) on Sharjah Airport;
Dh2.9 billion (US$800 million) on Ajman International Airport;
Dh183.6 million (US$50 million) on Fujairah Airport; and Dh1 billion
(US$272 million) on Ra’s al-Khaimah Airport.
The pattern of regional airport expansion is being fuelled by strong
economic growth and the rapid development of state-owned airlines,
including relative newcomers such as Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways.

@ www.uaeinteract.com/transport
176 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
An 140-million -year-old
dinosaur on display at Abu
Dhabi International Airport.
ABU DHABI AIRPORTS
Abu Dhabi Airport Company (ADAC), a public joint-stock company
wholly owned by Abu Dhabi government, has set in motion a large-
scale development programme to transform Abu Dhabi International
Airport (ADIA).
Abu Dhabi’s rising popularity as a business centre, tourist destination
and aviation hub has meant that passenger volumes have been
increasing steadily at the airport, especially since the launch of Abu
Dhabi-based national airline, Etihad Airways. This has had such an
impact that figures released in a comprehensive, independent analysis
of global airport passenger traffic for 2007 placed Abu Dhabi as one
of the joint leaders in a top-ten of the world's top performing
intercontinental hubs, in terms of relative growth.
A record 6.9 million passengers passed through ADIA in 2007, a 31
per cent increase over 2006. Forecasts for 2008 estimate that 7.6
million passengers will use the airport and figures to date indicate that
the facility is on target to achieve this: ADIA registered 6.67 million
passengers in the first nine months of 2008, up by 32.9 per cent on the
 INFRASTRUCTURE 177

corresponding period in 2007. The trailing 12 month figures A huge new Midfield
(September 2007 to September 2008) fared even better, demonstrating Terminal Complex,
a solid 34.6 per cent growth with over 8.5 million passengers handled which will eventually
through the airport during that period. Cargo handled in the first nine increase capacity to 40
months of the year also enjoyed steady growth, being up 14.8 per cent,
million passengers a
with aircraft movements showing a healthy 15.5 per cent increase.
year, is under
A new Terminal 3, costing Dh1 billion, was opened in phases
construction at
throughout 2008. When fully operational, the new terminal will
accommodate 5 million passengers, bringing the total passenger Abu Dhabi Airport.
capacity between Terminals 1, 1A and 2 to over 12 million.
Terminal 3, including immigration areas, baggage handling and
the airport's new retail environment, is for the exclusive use of
Eithad Airways and is an interim facility with eight gates capable of
handling the new generation of wide-bodied aircraft, two being
Airbus A380 compatible. Supporting these developments, a new
4100 metre second runway and a new Air Traffic Control Complex
(ATCC) will become operational in 2009, along with a new cargo
terminal due for completion in 2010.
The new terminal will meet Etihad's needs until the first phase of
a huge Midfield Terminal Complex (MTC) is completed in 2012.
Construction work has already commenced on this new x-shaped
facility, which will boost the airport's overall capacity to around 20
million passengers a year, with room for further phased expansion
to 40 million by 2016. The project also includes new cargo facilities,
an airport free zone, and retail and maintenance facilities.
More than 50 hectares have been reserved for building the three
new cargo terminals, two for Etihad Airways, and one for the use of
other airlines, with an ultimate combined capacity of around 2.5
million tonnes per year, up from 150,000 tonnes per year at present.
Abu Dhabi Duty Free (ADDF), which was established in 1984, is
targeting a 25 per cent increase in turnover in 2008, up from
US$102.6 million in 2007, which was 36.29 per cent higher than
2006. Sales in 2007 were buoyed by robust growth across the core
categories of beauty and fragrance, liquor and tobacco, confectionery
and gold, the best performing being electronics at 52.22 per cent
increase. ADDF services extend across the emirate with operations at
Abu Dhabi International Airport, Al Ain International Airport, which
serves Abu Dhabi’s Eastern Region, and the Ghweifat land-border
outlet between the UAE and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

@ www.uaeinteract.com/transport
178 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
Al Ain International
Airport serves Abu
Dhabi’s Eastern Region.
This is not only a
vibrant international
airport with full
facilities and an ideal
base for low-cost and
low-fare carriers, it is
also a sought-after
cargo hub facility.
ADIA was recently presented with the Airports Council International
(ACI) ‘Service Quality Assured’ certification. Its service quality
management system was credited with having met industry best
practices and ADIA was praised for its commitment to continual
improvement in the area of delivering quality of services to passengers.
Security is also constantly under review at ADIA: a face recognition
electronic system based on a highly advanced biometric technology is
being implemented, initially at Abu Dhabi airport and, subsequently,
at all ports of entry in the UAE. The system complements iris-
recognition technology, in use at all land, sea and airports.
New Airports
ADAC is adding a third airport to its portfolio with the announcement
in July 2008 that it would establish the Middle East's first dedicated
executive airport at Al Bateen just 10 kilometres from Abu Dhabi city
centre. The Bateen facility will be developed as an exclusive corporate
jet facility and ADAC will invest more than Dh200 million in additional
services at the airport, formerly the capital's airport but which has
been a military airbase since the early 1980s. The intention is to
develop a ‘one-stop shop' business jet facility, offering VVIP and
VIP passenger terminals, airport services, maintenance, repair and
 INFRASTRUCTURE 179

overhaul, fuel, handling and all other fixed-base operational services.

This airport will become the focus for one of the fastest-growing
areas of air travel. There are more than 380 corporate jets based in
the Middle East, a figure that is forecast to grow to 900 by 2014 and
this latest move by ADAC will further its goal to promote the UAE
capital as the region's business aviation leader.
ADAC is also developing and operating airports at island resorts
such as Sir Bani Yas and Dalma, so that they can be easily accessed
Dubai Airport’s impressive
via air taxis or air-shuttle services operating from both Bateen and new Terminal 3 commenced
Abu Dhabi International Airport. The intention is to extend the air- operations in October 2008.
shuttle service to the rest of the extensive Al Gharbia region, which is
being rapidly revitalised, and discussions are taking place between
ADAC, the Department of Transport and Abu Dhabi Aviation to
evaluate the prospects for an airport in the area’s isolated hinterland,
as well as on other islands,

AIRPORTS IN DUBAI
Dubai International Airport (DIA) was the world's fastest growing
airport in 2007 in terms of international passenger throughput, with
a growth of 19.31 per cent or 34.34 million passengers. DIA handled a
record 18.46 million passengers in the first half of 2008, registering a
growth of 13.8 per cent over the first six months of 2007. The airport
handled an average of 3 million passengers per month throughout
this period, making it the busiest in the airport's history. Some 40
million passengers are expected to use the airport in 2008.
Cargo also showed robust growth at Dubai International with
Dubai Cargo Village handling 831,978 tonnes of freight in the first half
of 2008, up 10.70 per cent over the same period in 2007.
The airport handled a total of 135,144 aircraft movements (both
inbound and outbound) between January and June 2008, as against
127,568 in the first half of 2007. On average, there are 715 aircraft
movements per day at Dubai International.
A phased transition of operations to DIA’s impressive new Terminal
3, a multi-level underground structure with a 40 million passenger
capacity, commenced on 14 October 2008. This was preceded by
operational trials using members of the public to ensure that systems
were working to the highest standards of efficiency.
The Dh16.6 billion (US$4.5 billion) facility will cater to the rapid
expansion of Emirates fleet, especially the superjumbo Airbus A380s:

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180 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

two airside facilities will have 25 gates specifically designed for twin
deck embarking and disembarking. Seven of these were operational at
the end of 2008 and the second airside facility will be ready in 2009.
Terminal 3 will increase the airport's capacity to 65 million passengers
annually, thereby easing the flow at the existing terminals.
Dubai Duty Free (DDF) also announced record-breaking results for
2007, with sales reaching Dh3.175 billion (US$880 million), a 24 per
cent increase over the previous year. Sales also surged by 31 per cent
to Dh1.9 billion in the first half of 2008. This is set to increase
since the opening of Concourse 2 and Terminal 3 has added 10,000
square metres to DDF’s retail area.
For the ninth consecutive year, DDF walked away with the award
for ‘Middle East Travel Retailer of the Year’ at the annual DFNI Awards
ceremony, formerly known as the Raven Fox Awards. The DFNI
award followed closely on the heels of the ‘Business Traveller Middle
East Award’ for Best Duty Free, which was presented during the
Arabian Travel Market in May. DDF also won ‘Best Duty Free’ at the
Naseba MENA Airport Awards 2008.
Dubai International Airport itself is no stranger to awards having
recently won ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’, at the Business Traveller
Awards, along with the ‘Fastest Growing Airport’ at Naseba MENA
Airports Awards.
But Dubai is not content with expanding Dubai International
Airport, it is also building a new airport on the outskirts of the city.
Al Maktoum International, when it is fully operational, is expected
to handle 120 million passengers a year. The entire project will cost
Dh128.4 billion (US$35 billion), with Dh36.7 billion (US$10 billion)
earmarked for the airport alone.
A dedicated Executive Flight Centre for general aviation, mainly
business jets and VIP flight operations, has seen double-digit growth
at Dubai International Airport for several years and a new facility
is also planned for Jebel Ali: the Dubai World Central (DWC) Executive
Flight Centre will be able to accommodate 100,000 aircraft movements
per year.

NORTHERN AIRPORTS
Sharjah International Airport (SIA) celebrated its seventy-fifth
anniversary in 2008: the facility was founded in 1932 when Imperial
 INFRASTRUCTURE 181

Airways, the forerunner of British Airways, constructed an airfield at

Sharjah as a stopover en route to India and Australia. When the modern
Sharjah International airport opened on 1 January 1977, it was the
first category II airport in the Arabian Gulf and had an annual capacity
of 2 million passengers.
SIA, too, has recorded steady growth in passenger traffic and the
launching of the very successful Air Arabia has played a major role
in the overall activity at the airport. In 2007, passenger throughput
was 4,324,313, there were 51,314 aircraft movements and 570,363
tonnes of cargo was shifted through the airport. In the first nine
months of 2008, Shanjah Airport recorded an impressive 24.78 per
cent increase in passenger traffic.
Ongoing developments are expected to boost the capacity of
SIA to handle more than 8 million passengers a year. Expansion
plans include new gates, departure and arrivals lobbies and airside
facilities for regular passengers, VIPs, and cargo. The cost of the
project, which is nearing completion, is approximately Dh500 million
(US$136.23 million).
Ajman announced in December 2007 that it is building a new airport Ajman is building a
at a cost of Dh12 billion (US$3.26 billion) in the Manama area of the new airport in the
emirate, close to the western flank of the Hajar Mountains. Spread over Manama area of the
an area of 6 million square metres, the Ajman airport project will be emirate, close to the
completed in two phases, the first comprising the main arrival and western flank of
departure terminal buildings, runway, cargo complex, aviation school, the Hajar Mountains.
aircraft maintenance workshop, free zone and commercial area.
Scheduled for completion in 2011, it is estimated that Ajman
airport will handle more than 1 million passengers in the first three
years of operation and at least 400,000 tonnes of cargo. Driven largely
by low cost carriers and cargo operations in the initial phase, the new
airport expects to achieve significant international passenger traffic
within five years.
Ra's al-Khaimah International Airport is striving to create a name
in the aviation industry. Currently 16 airlines use the facility, including
the recently established Ra’s al-Khaimah Airways. The airport is
implementing a four-year plan to construct new arrival and departure
lounges, a free zone, automated cargo warehouses, parking lots, offices,
and restaurants. Plans are also in place to construct a new five-star
airport hotel and build a new runway.

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182 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

Fujairah is planning to phase out its existing international airport

on the edge of Fujairah City, to permit the area to be utilised for
urban expansion. A completely new airport is planned near Siji, on
the western side of the Hajar Mountains and close to the new
Fujairah–Dubai highway. From Siji, using the new road, it will be
only a 25-minute drive to Fujairah.

PORTS
The United Arab Emirates has over 20 ports, ranging from state-of-the-
All UAE ports art oil terminals, world-class industrial ports and container-handling
experienced record facilities to smaller dhow and wooden-boat wharfs. All UAE ports
performances in 2008 experienced record performances in 2008 as the region’s economic
as the region’s boom meant that imports of the necessary materials, foodstuffs and
economic boom meant luxury goods flooded into the country. As a result, UAE port operators
that imports of the are focusing on finishing expansion plans as well as upgrading
necessary materials, equipment and facilities in an attempt to keep ahead of the frantic
foodstuffs and luxury pace of growth.
goods flooded into
ABU DHABI
the country.
Abu Dhabi Terminals (ADT) is in charge of operations at Mina Zayed,
Abu Dhabi’s main commercial port. However, day-to-day management
is carried out by DP World–UAE under the terms of an agreement
concluded in 2006.
Much of the success of Abu Dhabi’s ambitious plans for the future
that have been outlined in previous sections will be determined by
the efficiency of the ports since 80 per cent of goods arriving into Abu
Dhabi emirate do so by sea. For example, commodity imports surged
69 per cent at Mina Zayed from January to July and in the first seven
months of 2008, steel and iron imports to Abu Dhabi rose by 76 per
cent to 1.2 million metric tonnes, while imports of plywood for
construction went up by 351 per cent to 43,500 metric tonnes. The
number of container moves at Mina Zayed reached 200,000 in the
same period.
By 2011 Mina Zayed’s central role is set to change when Khalifa
Port and Industrial Zone (KPIZ) will take over as the emirate’s
primary port. The Dh37 billion (US$10 billion) greenfield port project
 INFRASTRUCTURE 183

is being constructed 4.6 kilometres offshore of Taweelah on 3.4 square A massive new port,
kilometres of reclaimed land, roughly halfway between the two Khalifa Port and
cities of Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The adjacent industrial, logistics, Industrial Zone,
commercial, educational and residential zones are spread over 137 is being constructed
square kilometres. The world-scale industrial and container port will 4.6 kilometres
have the capacity to handle 2 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent off Taweelah on 3.4
units) in its first phase. By 2028, it is estimated that the port will square kilometres of
handle 37 million tonnes of cargo and 5 million containers each year reclaimed land.
The decision to build offshore was taken following a two-year
environmental study conducted by Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC),
probably the most extensive modelling study ever done in this region.
The design ensures that coral communities will be unaffected by
shipping traffic further offshore. A Wetlands National Park is planned
just south of the Khalifa Port. Another protected area will be created
among the mangroves and tidal flatlands just north of the new port,
along the Dubai border.
DP World–UAE will also manage Khalifa Port and DP World's
sister company Economic Zones World (EZW), one of the largest
developers and operators of free zones in the world, has been
contracted to operate an initial 25 square kilometre trade and logistics
free zone within the larger industrial zone.

DUBAI
In addition to Mina Zayed, DP World-UAE manages ports at Dubai’s
Jebel Ali, the largest port in the Middle East, Port Rashid, also in Dubai
and Fujairah on the east coast. In 2007, the company recorded 19 per
cent growth in throughput with the handling of 11 million TEUs at its
marine terminals during 2007, as compared to 2006.
A substantial increase in throughput was recorded at Jebel Ali and
Port Rashid, showing a growth of 20 per cent compared with 2006,
to reach 10.7 million TEUs. Jebel Ali port operations alone grew by
more than 25 per cent, with the port handling over 9.9 million TEUs,
compared with the volume handled throughout 2006. Container
volumes at Jebel Ali increased by 22 per cent in the first half of 2008.
DP World is scaling down operations at Port Rashid and shifting all
cargo operations to the Jebel Ali Port as the Port Rashid area is being
redeveloped for urban real estate and other maritime activities such
as cruise tourism.

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184 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
Jebel Ali will have an
additional 2500 metres
of quay length with
a draft of 17 metres.
This will enable the
port to cater for the
new generation
of massive ships.
The opening of the first phase of a new container terminal (T2) at Jebel
Ali in August 2007, which added 2 million tonnes, contributed to a
substantial increase in handling capacity. By the time the Dh5.5 billion
(US$1.5 billion) T2 becomes fully operational in February 2009,
an additional 3 million tonnes will have been added, raising capacity
to 15 million tonnes. Terminal 2, like Terminal 1, will be used for both
import and export cargo and transshipment business.
Jebel Ali will have an additional 2500 metres of quay length with
a draft of 17 metres. This will enable the port to cater for the new
generation of massive ships (12,000 + TEUs). The port has already
played host to one of the world’s largest ships when it welcomed
the 367-metre Grete Mersk, which has a capacity of 8200 TEUs, in
August 2008.
Jebel Ali has been voted ‘Best Seaport in the Middle East' for 13
consecutive years and DP World–UAE was recently awarded a
'Recognised for Excellence' five-star rating by EFQM, the European
Foundation for Quality Management, a prominent international body
that assesses the performance of companies and their commitment
to quality standards.
DP World now ranks fourth in the world in managing and operating
marine terminals with an expanding network of operations in the
Indian subcontinent, Far East, the Americas, Australia and also in the
UAE. The UAE’s ports account for around 25 per cent of the total
handled TEUs in DP World’s terminals worldwide, which was 43.3
million TEUs in 2007.
SHARJAH’S PORTS
Container volume at Sharjah's ports, Sharjah Container Terminal
(Port Khalid) (SCT) on the Gulf coast and Khor Fakkan, Sharjah’s east
coast facility, grew by 8 per cent in 2007. The combined throughput
was 2.17 million TEUs. The two terminals achieved about 2 million
TEUs in 2006. Both ports are operated by Gulftainer.
Construction commenced in early 2007 on a major expansion at
SCT to keep pace with demand. The overall draft has been increased
by 1 metre to 12.5 metres, enabling the port to handle bigger ships.
The quay wall has been buttressed, additional storage areas allocated
and two new large gantry cranes, post-panamax cranes, also became
operational in September. The improvements should increase the
capacity of the port by 20 per cent.
 INFRASTRUCTURE 185

Khor Fakkan Container Terminal (KCT) has shown a 20 per cent Dubai was the first
increase in volumes during the first half of 2008 compared with the city in the Middle
same period in 2007. To accommodate growth, Gulftainer has also East to launch the IATA
increased capacity at this terminal. It had already increased its docking
e-freight initiative and
capacity with the addition of 400 metres of quay in 2006 and is
the fourteenth
now engaged in a second phase of expansion. The project will
e-freight location
increase KCT’s existing 1460 metres of quay by 440 metres. and the
new quay will be protected by an 800 metre breakwater. Much of worldwide to deliver
the dredging required to provide 16.5 metres of water depth cargo paper-free.
alongside the quay wall has already been completed and the infilling
for the berth's foundation is under way.
Upon completion of the new berth, six new ship-to-shore super
post-panamax gantries will be installed, taking the number of such
cranes at the port to 20. The terminal will also benefit from new
rubber-tyred gantries and road trains. All this development work is
essential if Sharjah is to avoid the costly delays and congestion
affecting many other regions.

PORTS IN OTHER EMIRATES

Traffic at Ajman Port, which only commenced container operations
in April 1999, was expected to rise in 2008 with the expansion of
business in the area and the fact that the port provides cost-effective
services and facilities to the adjacent free zone and the wider business
community. Facilities include eight wharfs and a covered storage area
totalling 43,200 square metres. The Port Authority also has two dry
docks for ship repairs and maintenance.
The Ahmed Bin Rashid Port and Free Zone is located about 30
miles north-east of Dubai in the Emirate of Umm al-Qaiwain. The free
zone complex comprises four wharves totalling 845 metres of quay
wall within a secured area of 400,000 square metres, which is capable
of handling ocean-going vessels, and 118,000 square metres of land
reserved for light industrial development. The entrance channel has a
minimum depth of 10 metres and a width of 100 metres, and connects
with a swinging basin of 500 metres.
Saqr Port, Ra’s al-Khaimah’s window on the world, has experienced
a robust 107 per cent increase in cargo handling over the past four
years and an annual growth of more than 30 per cent, reflecting the
fast-paced development activities taking place in the emirate. During
that period, the port has undertaken an ambitious expansion

@ www.uaeinteract.com/ship_ports
 Fujairah port programme involving an investment of Dh221 million to improve the
authorities have raised efficient handling of containers, bulk and general cargo.
Dh900 million to A new container terminal with a capacity of 350,000 TEUs, which
finance the building of was developed by the Kuwait-based KGL Ports International (KGLPI),
was recently added. Four new berths, a high-tech container scanning
additional container
system and other upgraded infrastructure have been commissioned
terminals at the port. A
and new offices for the RAK Customs and Ports Department were
new oil pipeline
opened. The four new berths have a total length of 795 metres and will
between Abu Dhabi substantially increase the cargo handling capacity of the port. Saqr Port
and Fujairah and the Authority operates the remaining eight berths.
construction of an oil Fujairah Port is strategically located on UAE’s east coast,
refinery nearby will approximately 70 nautical miles from the Straits of Hormuz, an
also make Fujairah Port attractive location for a range of users of the multi-purpose port and
an important player in the significant number of vessels calling at the Fujairah anchorage for
oil exporting. bunker supplies and services. Since commencing operations in 1983,
Fujairah Port has embarked on a continuing process of enhancement
of its facilities and functions. Improvements in recent years include the
dredging of the entrance and the inner basin to 15 metres, the
completion of an additional 600 metres of main quay (giving 1.4
kilometres of continuous quay), an additional 720 metres of tanker
berth quays along the northern breakwater additional paved area,
(storage for up to 30,000 TEUs), and the provision of a bulk loader
to cater for the emirate's aggregate export market.
 INFRASTRUCTURE 187

The offshore tanker anchorage, supervised by Fujairah's Port

Authority, has been a major component of the port's success and
Fujairah is now the second-largest oil bunkering port in the world.
The port handles all types of business including bulk cargo, general
cargo, oil and other commodities, as well as providing marine services.
Currently, the port is not using its container loading facilities and DP
World, which currently leases the quay and cranes, has expressed
a wish to unload larger vessels and handle more containers.
The Port of Fujairah has raised Dh900 million to expand existing
operations and invest in new facilities to alleviate existing capacity
shortages at the terminal and cater for anticipated growth over the
next 25 years.

ELECTRICIT Y & WATER

An adequate supply of electricity and water is an absolute prerequisite
to fuel the massive economic and infrastructure developments outlined
in the previous sections. It is no surprise, therefore, that considerable
effort is being expended to meet burgeoning demand, which some
analysts have calculated could be growing at a rate of 15 to 20 per
cent per annum.
The Federal Electricity and Water Authority (Fewa) is the body
responsible for overseeing federal utilities, whilst authorities in 9000

individual emirates, including Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity 8000

Authority (Adwea), Dubai Water and Electricity Authority (Dewa) 7000

and Sharjah Water and Electricity Authority (Sewa), oversee power 6000

5000
and water generation in their individual emirates.
4000
As government moves from provider to regulator, privatisation has
3000
featured prominently in utility provision. Part-privatisation has been a
2000
long-established policy in Abu Dhabi, and a new federal law governing
1000
utility privatisation under Fewa was introduced in 2008. Other emirates
0
are also actively pursuing this business model. 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

IWPP
WATER RESOURCES non-IWPP

Despite the scarcity of natural water resources, residents of the UAE

Abu Dhabi IWPP and
are among the highest per capita water users in the world, consuming non-IWPP electricity in
an average of 550 litres per day. The UAE relies on renewable and gross megawatt.

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188 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

The UAE's investment non-renewable groundwater and desalinated water for supply.
in power and water However, rainfall is sparse and intermittent (average annual rainfall
projects increased by across the country being approximately 100 millimetres, though in
20 per cent from western desert areas, several years may pass without any rainfall at all)
Dh42.64 billion and groundwater is being severely degraded and aquifers depleted.
(US$11.62 billion) Irrigation for agriculture, forestry and amenity plantation accounts
in 2007 to Dh 51.34 for a massive 82 per cent of total groundwater use and it is generally
recognised that this position is untenable. If water continues to be
billion (US$14 billion)
abstracted at the current rate, fresh and brackish groundwater resources
in 2008.
will probably be depleted in 50 years. One of the worst affected areas is
Al Khazna, an agriculture area 40 kilometres from Al Ain, where
the water table has dropped 80 metres in 25 years. Near the coast,
depleted aquifers have been contaminated by seawater. Higher soil
and water salinity is also a problem.
The UAE plans to build 68 rechargeable dams in the coming five
years to augment the 114 dams in existence, all but two of which are
rechargeable. Higher than average rainfall in 2008 has helped to fill
dams. However, desalination now supplies almost all of the water used
for human consumption and for industry. Five of the world’s top ten
desalination plants are located in the UAE. Most desalination plants
are cogeneration projects using excess heat from power production.
The UAE's investment in power and water projects increased by 20
per cent from Dh42.64 billion (US$11.62 billion) in 2007 to Dh 51.34
billion (US$14 billion) in 2008, 50 per cent of which was earmarked
for processing wastewater while water generation and transportation
accounted for 36 per cent and 13 per cent, respectively.
Adwea is spending Dh 4.77 billion (US$1.3 billion) for the expansion
of five existing desalination plants; one is scheduled for completion in
2008, another will come on-stream in 2009 and the remaining three
will be in operation by 2010.
Under Adwea's five-year strategy, the agency will increase its water
production from the current 626 million gallons per day (MIGD) to 969
MIGD by 2013. However, demand for water in Abu Dhabi is expected
to grow by anything up to 43 per cent in the next five years, depending
on whether developers meet their schedules.
Dewa is spending Dh1.23 billion (US$335 million) on water
projects, 80 per cent of which is dedicated for water generation and
transportation and 20 per cent for processing.
 INFRASTRUCTURE 189

Sharjah and Ajman's spending currently stands at Dh4.28 billion

(US$1.166 billion) and Dh1.31 billion (US$357 million), respectively,
while Fujairah’s projects are put at Dh3.14 billion (US$856 million).

Regulating Usage
The government recognises that the issue is not just one of supply, One of the priorities of
demand management is equally vital for sustainable development and the recently adopted
long-term water security. Increasing public participation in water Water Master Plan for
resources management programmes is just one of the priorities of the Abu Dhabi emirate,
recently adopted Water Master Plan for Abu Dhabi emirate, which which was developed
was developed by the Environment Agency –Abu Dhabi (EAD). by the Environment
The aim is to reduce the usage of water to 350 litres per capita per Agency–Abu Dhabi
day over the next five years.
(EAD), is to reduce the
Steps are being taken too by EAD to tackle water resource
water usage to 350
management issues, including monitoring and management of
litres per capita per day
groundwater resources, wastewater treatment management, water
over the next five years.
quality monitoring, and general water wastage in distribution systems.
EAD is also responsible for a technologically advanced soil resources
mapping project that is greatly facilitating the exploration, licensing
and regulation of well drilling, and the finding of a gigantic aquifer
in the Western (Al Gharbia) Region of Abu Dhabi was a significant
success for the project. Recent legislation is also curbing the drilling of
unlicensed wells.
In addition, a satellite imagery project run by the Centre for Remote
Sensing, Boston University, USA, in cooperation with Sewa, was
crucial in preparing a long-term strategic plan for the rational use of
groundwater resources in Sharjah and other northern emirates.
EAD has set a target for farms to cut water consumption from
23,500 to 18,000 cubic metres per hectare and for forestry to reduce
its usage from 3500 to 2500 cubic metres per hectare by 2012. Some
savings may be achieved by advanced irrigation techniques and
adherence to the master plan will prohibit new forestry plantations.
The use of treated water for irrigating landscaped gardens is also
being encouraged to save desalinated water and it is estimated that
within two years all treated sewage water will be used for irrigation. The
ultimate aim of the strategy is to meet the needs of the industrial and
agricultural sectors with treated wastewater and to use desalinated
water only for domestic purpose.

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190 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
Abu Dhabi Sewerage
Services Company is
implementing Step,
the Strategic Tunnel
Enhancement
Programme,
to cater for increased
demands on
the emirate’s
sewerage system.
To enhance capacity building in the water sector, the Arab Water
Academy, a specialised institute that will articulate, design and
implement new training initiatives, has been established by the
Arab Water Council, supported by EAD, the International Centre for
Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), the Islamic Development Bank and the
World Bank.
To further enhance integrated water management, in 2008 the
UAE Environment and Water Minister signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations University International
Network on Water, Environment and Health, on cooperation in the
fields of research, capacity building and sustainable management of
water resources in the UAE.
Public awareness of conservation issues is also a major component
of Dewa’s efforts to curb demand escalation. Recognising that the
residential sector consumed 60 per cent of water and 30 per cent of
power supplied in 2007, Dewa launched a campaign under the slogan
‘Now that you know, don't let it go.’
Focusing on the behaviour of consumers, the campaign seeks to
educate the public and provide tips to save water and electricity. Under
their new conservation programme entitled the 'Best Consumer
Award', Dewa is also offering residents the chance to win cash prizes by
reducing the amount of electricity and water they use on a daily basis.
Pricing is also being used to curb demand: Dubai has devised a
new tariff whereby the more you use the more you pay to encourage
big consumers to use less water. The new price scale will only affect
the top 20 per cent of consumers. Sewa has also introduced a slab
system of tariff for electricity and water consumption whereby rates
charged increase proportionally with consumption.
SEWERAGE
Sewage works have been stretched by the unprecedented rate of
urbanisation throughout the UAE and, as already mentioned, treated
sewage is a major component of water usage strategy. Over the
next six years, the Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company (ADSSC)
will implement the Strategic Tunnel Enhancement Programme (STEP)
to cater to the immediate, short and long-term needs of Abu Dhabi's
wastewater and drainage system. The STEP project comprises 40
kilometres of deep sewerage tunnel and two new large pumping
stations. The programme will play a critical role in the implementation
of Abu Dhabi's Plan 2030.
 INFRASTRUCTURE 191

Dubai Municipality is also constructing a huge sewage water

treatment plant at Jebel Ali at a cost of Dh1.56 billion (US$425
million). On completion in 2010, the new facility will replace Al Awir as
the main sewage treatment plant for the city, thereby ensuring that
all areas are linked to the city’s main drainage network. The project
covers an area of 670 hectares and is designed to have the capacity to
treat 300,000 cubic metres of sewage a day.
Sharjah is allocating Dh100 million to fund the seventh phase of
upgrading work on its sewage treatment plant. The project will be
completed in 2011, increasing current capacity by 55 per cent.

POWER AND WATER GENERATION

Residents in the UAE draw on around 11,000 kilowatt hours per
person per year. At the end of 2007, available capacity in the UAE
was around 16,670 MW. Some analysts estimate that the national
annual peak demand for electricity is likely to rise to more than
40,000 MW by 2020, reflecting a cumulative annual growth rate
of roughly 9 per cent. However, in Abu Dhabi alone, demand will
rise almost 80 per cent in the next five years to 10,600 MW, while
capacity, which was 8000 MW at the end of 2007, is set to reach
12,503 MW in 2010.
Optimisation and expansion of existing facilities as well as
development of greenfield sites is ongoing and billions of dirhams have
been pumped into the electricity and water sector since Abu Dhabi
embarked on its privatisation drive in 1998. Today, independent water ELECTRICITY PEAK DEMAND
HIGH FORECAST
and power projects (IWPPs) supply the bulk of electricity and water in
2010 2015 2020
Abu Dhabi, and Taweelah A-2, the UAE’s first IWPP, is being used across ABU
DHABI 7,011 10,412 11,412
the region as a blueprint for a successful privatisation strategy.
AL AIN 1,741 2,136 2,460
Taqa, the energy investment company in which the government of
Abu Dhabi through Adwea owns 51 per cent, has been instrumental WESTERN
9,822 13,947 14,340
REGION
in providing over 85 per cent of Abu Dhabi’s power and water
desalination needs.
In 2008, Taqa sold a 20-per cent interest in Shuweihat CMS
International Power Company (Scipco) and a 50 per cent interest
in Shuweihat O&M Limited Partnership (SOMLP) to Sumitomo
Corporation for Dh638.3 million (US$173.95 million); Scipco owns the
Shuweihat S1 power generation and water desalination facility near
Jebel Dhanna, with a net production capacity of 1500 MW and 100
MIGD. SOMLP is the company responsible for the management,

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192 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
Phase one of Sharjah’s
Hamriya power and
desalination plant is
scheduled for start-up
in 2009. The Sewa
project will eventually
supply 2000 MW of
power and 168 MIGD
of desalinated water.
operation and maintenance of the S1 Plant. Following this transaction,
Taqa retained a 54 per cent interest in Scipco, while Adwea and
International Power continued to hold 6 per cent and 20 per cent
respectively.
Adwea’s eighth IWPP, Shuweihat 2, costing Dh7.34 billion (US$2
billion) and producing 1500 MW and 100 MIGD was set up in 2008.
Shuweihat 3, which was also announced in 2008, is due to be
operational by 2012. It will have power capacity of about 1500 MW
and 100 MIGD.
In Dubai, Dewa had a generating capacity at the end of 2007 of
around 5500 MW, with a further 1800 MW of capacity added in 2008.
So far, Dubai has been able to meet demand for electricity and water,
which has been growing in the emirate at a rate of 15 per cent and 12
per cent respectively, but this is set to escalate. In total, Dubai has
committed Dh72 billion (US$19.62 billion) to fund utility projects that
have been implemented during 2008 or are still under construction.
Dewa is in the process of constructing three main power generation
stations with a capacity of 400/132 KV, as well as electricity
transference lines with a capacity of 400 KV, with the total cost of
the three stations and lines amounting to Dh2.120 billion. The
construction of each station will take between 22 and 26 months and
they will be instrumental in supplying power to major developments
such as Palm Jebel Ali and Dubailand,
Dubai is also planning to build a multi-billion dollar plant that would
be capable of producing 9000 MW of electricity and 600 MIGD of
desalinated water. The new complex will be located next to Dubai
World Central and the Jebel Ali port and free zone where most of the
emirate’s power generation capacity is presently situated.
In an attempt to keep pace with Sharjah’s mushrooming demand,
phase one of Sewa’s Hamriya power and desalination plant is currently
under construction and scheduled for start-up in 2009. Initial work on
the site includes a 600 MW power plant and 24 MIGD of desalination.
The Sewa project will eventually supply 2000 MW of power and 168
MIGD of desalinated water.
Sewa’s Khor Fakkan desalination plant, which began production in
October 2008, will produce 2.5 MIGD in the initial phase but total
capacity will be 5 MIGD.
To meet surging requirements in the Emirate of Ra’s al-Khaimah,
Adwea is providing Fewa with 10 MIGD through new pipelines from a
 INFRASTRUCTURE 193

plant at Qidfa, just north of Fujairah, raising its pumping capacity to 37 The IWPP projects at
MIGD. Construction of the main water pipelines has recently been Fujairah 1 and
completed. The freshwater supplies will radically solve the problem of Fujairah 2 in Qidfa
water shortfall in Ra’s al-Khaimah. Meanwhile, Fewa is handing over significantly increase
the Zawra desalination plant in the Emirate of Ajman. The plant will the availability
initially produce 3 MIGD and a planned maximum capacity of 6 MIGD of power and water.
will be reached when the construction of a new connection pipeline
is finalised.
Additionally, four electricity plants with a total capacity of 740
MW are being built by the Ra’s al-Khaimah government and plans
for a 2000 MW plant to meet the needs of the emirate's future
expansion are being studied. The first plant at Al Hamra, with a
capacity of 120 MW, cost Dh440 million (US$119.9 million) and
became operational in November 2008.
An 80 MW plant at Al Ghail Industrial City and another with a
capacity of 40 MW at Al Hamra will be ready for operation in June
2009. The combined cost of both plants will be Dh 32.7 million
(US$120 million). The fourth plant, with a capacity of 500 MW, is
due to open in September 2010.
The IWPP projects at Fujairah 1 and Fujairah 2, also at Qidfa and
managed by Abu Dhabi’s Adwea in association with foreign investors,
significantly increase the availability of power and water. Fujairah 1
has a capacity of 880 MW and 102 MIGD, whilst Fujairah 2 will add
2000 MW of electricity and 130 MIGD.
Most of the power and desalination plants in the UAE are fuelled
by gas. As we have already seen in the section on Oil & Gas, the
UAE has invested heavily in projects to increase gas production over
the past 20 years and the country is also importing Qatari gas
through Dolphin pipelines. In addition, there are plans to obtain
more than 500 million cubic feet per day from Iran through a Dana
Gas pipeline.
Gas began flowing into Taweelah just outside Abu Dhabi City in
2007 at a rate of 1.6 billion cfd and supplies were expected to surge to
2 billion cfd in 2008. This includes 788 mmscf/d per day for Adwea, 730
mmscf/d for Dewa, 141 mmcsf/d for the Union Water and Electricity
Company and 200 mmscf/d for Oman Oil Company.
The Fujairah plants will eventually also be supplied by gas from
Qatar via the Dolphin Gas Project’s receiving facility at Taweelah.

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Common GCC power

Linking the electricity Linking the electricity networks of the six GCC states in a single grid,
networks of the six GCC which is currently under construction, will help to ensure security of
states in a single grid supply, assist in conserving the environment and save money in the
will help to ensure long-term. The total installed capacity for the GCC Interconnection
security of supply, Grid is predicted to be 70 gigawatts, 10 gigawatts more than the peak
assist in conserving load currently experienced on the member countries' systems.
the environment and The UAE and neighbouring Oman have integrated their own
network (South Grid) and the remaining two phases of the landmark
save money in the
project (interconnection of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar,
long-term.
the North Grid, and the connecting up of North and South Grid) are
scheduled for completion by 2010.
The GCC Interconnection Grid Authority, which is overseeing the
project, expects it to result in a 50 per cent reduction in operational
reserve and slash costs of power projects in the region in the long
term. The project could pave the way for extending the grid between
the GCC and other Arab nations.

CLEAN POWER
Alternative low-carbon energy sources, such as solar, wind and
hydrogen power, are becoming increasingly attractive in the UAE,
especially since the US$15 billion Masdar Initiative was launched in
2006, marking Abu Dhabi as the first major hydrocarbon-producing
nation to embrace renewable and sustainable energy. As explained
in the chapter on Economic Development, the imaginative Masdar
Initiative is Abu Dhabi’s multi-faceted, multi-billion dollar investment
in the development and commercialisation of innovative technologies
in renewable, alternative and sustainable energies together with
sustainable design.
As we have already seen, Masdar will cover wide-ranging energy
programmes on sustainable development and management of solar,
hydrogen and wind powers, carbon emission reduction, education,
industry and research and development.
In February 2008, the Masdar Initiative broke ground in Abu Dhabi
on Masdar City, which will be powered entirely by renewable energy.
Covering an area of 6 square kilometres, Masdar City will have its
electricity generated by photovoltaic panels, some of which will be
manufactured in Abu Dhabi, while cooling will be provided via
 INFRASTRUCTURE 195

concentrated solar power. Water will be provided through a solar-

powered desalination plant. Landscaping within the city and crops
grown outside the city will be irrigated with grey water and treated
wastewater produced by the city’s water treatment plant.
Masdar is collaborating with Emirates CMS Power Company to
develop a UN-audited Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project
that will see the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions at Emirates CMS
power generation facility at the Taweelah industrial zone in Abu Dhabi. For more information about
The UAE is also expected to agree to a proposed hydrogen plant, the Masdar Initiative, visit
www.masdaruae.com.
which will extract hydrogen and carbon dioxide from natural gas. The
carbon dioxide will be trapped and injected into oilfields, pushing
out the remaining oil in a process known as enhanced oil recovery.
Hydrogen will be sold as a clean fuel that power plants could burn to
produce electricity.
Masdar and Hydrogen Energy, a joint venture between the oil firm The prototype for a
BP and mining company Rio Tinto, are investing in the project, Dh18 million‘Solar
which carries a US$2 billion capital cost. Masdar will present the case Island’announced in
to government at the start of 2009, expecting a green light in the Ra’s al-Khaimah in
middle of the year and operation by mid-2013, a year later than January 2008 to
Hydrogen Energy had earlier forecast. produce around
Taqa is progressing a Dh3.67 billion coal-fired power plant in the 250 KW of electricity
capital to be completed in the second quarter of 2009. At the same will be fully operational
time, construction of a Dh6 billion power station to generate electricity
by the beginning
using hydrogen extracted from coal commenced at Ras Hasyan
of 2009.
in August 2008. Dewa will own 51 per cent of the plant, with the
remainder held by foreign investors.

NUCLEAR ENERGY
Despite the fact that alternative energy options are being actively
researched and deployed within the UAE, it is unlikely that these
methods of generating electricity could supply sufficient energy to
meet the predicted shortfall. Other sustainable alternatives under
consideration include nuclear energy.
In 2008, the UAE set up the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation
(Enec), with an initial capital of Dh375 million (US$102 million),
to assess and develop a peaceful nuclear energy programme. In April
2008, the UAE Government unveiled its formal policy towards the
development of peaceful nuclear energy following consultations with

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196 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
The UAE has set up the
Emirates Nuclear
Energy Corporation to
assess and develop a
peaceful nuclear
energy programme.
Telecommunications
across all platforms in
the UAE are fast and
effective with
fixed-line, internet
and mobile
connectivity among
the best
in the world.
the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the governments
of France, the US, the UK, Russia, China, Japan, Germany and South
Korea. The government has stressed that it will work closely with the
IAEA on the planned peaceful nuclear power programme.
In August 2008, it was announced that the UAE had contributed
US$10 million towards a fuel bank proposal originally launched by the
Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) in 2006. The NTI plan calls for a
dedicated low-enriched uranium (LEU) stockpile to be owned and
administered by the IAEA, the aim being to provide states with
assurances of nuclear fuel supply, addressing potential disruptions
of fuel shipment.
In the meantime, negotiations are taking place with interested
parties to explore the feasibility of building third-generation nuclear
power plants and in October 2008, Enec appointed CH2M HILL as
the managing agent for the nuclear power programme.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & POST
Fostering telecommunications is a major part of UAE Government
strategy, based on the awareness that connectivity is a key component
of public infrastructure. Today, telecommunications across all platforms
in the UAE are fast and effective with fixed-line, internet and mobile
connectivity among the best in the world. This was underlined in the
latest edition of the Global Information Technology Report, produced
by the World Economic Forum, which lists the UAE in twenty-ninth
place in its Networked Readiness Index (NRI) 2007–2008 rankings,
marking it out as one of the highest rated networked economies in
the world. The NRI measures economies’ capacity to fully leverage
ICT for increased competitiveness and development.
Recent research underlines the UAE’s leadership in the Middle East
when it comes to expenditure on ICT: the country is currently spending
Dh41.8 billion (US$11.4 billion) on ICT, and that figure is set to rise to
Dh54.3 billion (US$14.8 billion) by 2011.
Competition in the Marketplace
The UAE is presently serviced by two telecommunications operators,
Etisalat and du. Etisalat, which is 60 per cent state owned, has
 INFRASTRUCTURE 197

been investing in communications infrastructure providing fixed- Etisalat operated a monopoly

in telecom services until
line telephony, fixed and wireless secure internet access and mobile
du entered the marketplace
coverage to the UAE since its establishment in 1976. The company in 2007.
operated a monopoly until du launched mobile services in February
2007. However, Etisalat, with over 80 per cent of the market, remains
the UAE's biggest telecom provider and is expanding dramatically
internationally. As we saw in the chapter on Economic Development,
Etisalat is now the sixteenth largest telecommunications firm in
the world.
Du, offering voice, data and entertainment on mobile networks and
converged broadband, TV, and landline, is concentrating primarily on
building its customer base in the domestic market and is targeting a 30
per cent market share by 2010.
In January 2006 the takeover of the Tecom telecommunications
company that formerly operated Dubai free zone networks and

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198 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

Etisalat and du have Emaar's former Sahm Telecom network gave du a good working base
paid Dh400 million into to develop the company. Prior to an IPO in 2006, 50 per cent of du
the Information and was owned by the UAE Government, and the remaining 50 per
Communication cent split equally between Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Development
Technology (ICT) Fund, Company and Emirates Communications Technology Company. Post-
IPO, up to 20 per cent of du can be controlled by foreign individuals
representing 1 per cent
and institutions permitted to purchase du shares on the Dubai
of the companies'
Financial Market. At this point in time, du continues to show steady
revenues in 2006
growth in revenues as well as subscribers.
and 2007. Exceeding market expectations, du's total number of mobile
customers at 30 June 2008 crossed the 2.3 million mark, an addition
of 0.5 million in the quarter. Active subscribers, as defined by the TRA,
reached 1.85 million at 30 June 2008, a quarter on quarter increase
of 32 per cent (1.4 million at 31 March 2008).
Fixed-line revenues also continued to show significant growth, a
reflection of the continued expansion of the company's fixed line
network, which has led to an 18 per cent quarter on quarter increase
in subscribers to 0.22 million (Q1 0.18 million).
du announced in May 2008 that it had signed a construction and
maintenance agreement to build the first direct, high-bandwidth
optical-fibre submarine cable system from the United Kingdom to
India. The Europe India Gateway (EIG) cable system, which will
cost more than Dh2.57 billion (US$700 million), will significantly
enhance capacity, whilst bringing considerable diversity and bandwidth
into the Middle East and providing global access to operators in the
region.
Du’s entry into the UAE telecoms market was facilitated by the
formation of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) in
2003. The TRA was given the task of operating a regulatory framework
that would assist liberalisation and competition, in line with World
Trade Organisation (WTO) requirements, at the same time enhancing,
promoting and ensuring the quality of services.
Between 2002 and 2007, the number of mobile phone subscribers
in the UAE grew by an annual average of 25.6 per cent, almost four
times its population growth. Forecasts indicate that the UAE mobile
market will increase from 7.7 million subscribers in 2007 to 9.2
million in 2008 and to 11.9 million by 2012.
These figures show that the UAE had the highest mobile phone
penetration in the Arab world at the beginning of 2008: at this point
 INFRASTRUCTURE 199

the ratio was 173 subscribers to each 100 people. This is more than Analysts believe that
triple the world average of 49.3 for every 100 people. Penetration the UAE telecoms
rates are expected to grow more modestly in the future and analysts market is on course to
believe that the UAE telecoms market is on course to record a record a compounded
compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.5 per cent.
annual growth rate
At 30 per cent, the UAE also has the highest fixed-line penetration
of 8.5 per cent.
among the Arab states. However, growth in this sector has remained
fairly static, although this is also predicted to increase following a
new TRA directive instructing Etisalat and du to make network
adaptations to the fixed-line network, which should lower the cost to
consumers. This involves providing widespread access by 2009 to a
technology called Carrier Pre-Selection Service (CPS) in the fixed
line system. The technology has been available in the UAE since
2007, but a more widespread introduction will increase competition
in the sector, reduce prices, and enable consumers to freely choose
their provider of fixed line call services.

Internet Usage
Internet penetration is projected to continue its rapid growth (16.1 per
cent CAGR since 2005). Current UAE internet penetration figures
assume 2.4 users per subscription. TRA projections indicate that over
the next few years growth in both users and subscriptions will be
coupled with a fall in the number of users per subscription: the
number of subscribers are expected to increase from 0.904 million
in 2007 to 1.15 million in 2008, 1.44 million in 2009 and 2.66 million
in 2012. Revenues from internet subscriptions should grow from
Dh1.46 billion in 2007 to Dh1.82 billion in 2008, Dh2.19 billion in
2009 and to Dh2.95 billion by 2012. However, broadband penetration
has been less than expected. In 2007, 42 per cent of total were
broadband subscribers with the remainder using dial-up.
In 2007, the TRA successfully launched the Domain Administrator
(.aeDA) to manage the .ae domain for which it has commenced the
registration and licensing process. Additional details and information
are available on the website www.aeda.ae.
In August 2008, following consultations with interested parties,
the TRA issued its regulation policy on Internet Access Management
(IAM) in the UAE. This sets down the criteria that must be taken into
consideration by internet service providers to ensure the security of

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200 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
The TRA has instructed
internet service
providers in the UAE to
unblock access to over
1000 websites that
do not conflict with its
regulatory policy.
the internet and protect end-users from websites with content
that is contrary to the religious and ethical values of UAE society.
The policy lists sites that provide specific instructions or methods
encouraging individuals to commit unlawful acts or crimes; ‘phishing’
sites that aim to deceive users in order to obtain personal data such
as user name and password for credit cards, or include harmful codes
and information on piracy programs; websites that promote illegal
drugs, pornography, gambling, as well as websites which include
materials that reflect a hatred of divine religions and prophets in
general; and sites that promote terrorism or support for terrorism.
The TRA has also instructed internet service providers in the
country to unblock access to more than 1000 websites on the
internet that do not conflict with this regulatory policy and all
licensed internet service providers in the country must apply these
guidelines equally to all internet users. However, the TRA has
implemented some exceptions to the rules where access to certain
websites may be fundamental to the workings of government bodies.
In accordance with the TRA regulations on content, du has
indicated that it will now follow Etisalat’s practice of filtering websites
not in compliance with UAE laws through a proxy server. UAE
policies and proxy server issues affect certain websites in the UAE
such as the popular communications portal Skype.
THURAYA
Abu Dhabi-based Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications Company, a
leading provider of cost-effective, satellite-based mobile telephone
services through dual-mode handsets and satellite payphones, is
majority owned by Etisalat. Thuraya empowers people in rural and
remote areas as well as those at sea or beyond the reach of
terrestrial networks by providing them a reliable access to voice and
data communications.
The company launched a third geosynchronous satellite in January
2008: Thuraya 3 replaces the ageing Thuraya 1, while Thuraya 2 will
continue to provide coverage for the Middle East, Europe, North
Africa and some other markets. Thuraya 3 will bring countries of the
Asia-Pacific region, including such major markets as China, Australia,
Japan, Korea and Indonesia under Thuraya's footprint and extend its
coverage to nearly two-thirds of the globe's population, doubling the
 INFRASTRUCTURE 201

market size and population covered by the Thuraya system. Thuraya 3 Yahsat, the UAE’s first
and related ground network commenced commercial operation from nationally owned
9 June 2008. satellite operator, will
ThurayaMarine, a second generation communications technology provide innovative
package launched in 2007, has also been signed up with specialised solutions
maritime distributors and has commenced service provisioning in for government
the Asia-Pacific region. and commercial
communications in
YAHSAT
the Middle East, Africa,
Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PrJsc (Yahsat), the UAE's
Europe and South-
first nationally owned satellite operator, made its debut at Cabsat
West Asia.
2008. Incorporated in January 2007 and supported by a US$1.7 billion
investment from parent company Mubadala, Yahsat will develop,
procure, own and operate hybrid satellite systems based on market
requirements and future applications. The Abu Dhabi-based company
will provide innovative solutions for government and commercial
communications in the Middle East, Africa, Europe and South-
West Asia.
Yahsat signed an agreement with Arianespace to launch the Yahsat
1A satellite in the second half of 2010. The satellite is currently being
manufactured by the consortium of EADS Astrium and Thales Alenia
Space. Another agreement was signed with International Launch
Services (ILS) to launch the Yahsat 1B satellite in first half of 2011.
The launch of this satellite will enable Yahsat to offer a satellite
broadband service ‘Yahclick’ throughout the satellite’s range.
In addition, Yahsat signed an agreement with the UAE Armed
Forces to provide secure satellite communications in the UAE for a
15-year period. As part of the turnkey contract Yahsat will also
supply the ground terminals and gateway infrastructure and will be
responsible for satellite network services.

POSTAL SERVICES
Emirates Postal Corporation (EPC) was formed in 2001 following
restructuring of the UAE General Postal Authority. Since then, a
major change in the corporation’s business model and operational
strategies, including the introduction of integrated IT systems,
automated sorting centres and agreements with international postal
authorities, as well as the addition of new business streams in cargo

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202 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

and logistics, financial services, direct marketing, mail fulfilment and

other areas, has resulted in a remarkable turnaround in the company’s
fortunes. A holding company, Emirates Post Group, oversees a rapidly
expanding family of subsidiaries that now includes Emirates Post, the
postal corporation, Empost, the UAE’s national courier company, the
Electronic Documentation Centre, Emirates Marketing and Promotions,
and the Wall Street Exchange Centre.
Emirates Post Group's strategic operations plan for the coming
three year was formally approved in March 2008 outlining its vision
for expansion and diversification, and highlighting its mission to
emerge as a model for federal organisations by adopting innovative
business practices.
Emirates Post declared a record net profit of Dh190 million for the
year 2007, an increase of 20 per cent over the previous year, reflecting
Emirates Post
the group's continuing pursuit of business diversification, new alliances
continues and acquisitions. Among the highlights of 2007 was the Memorandum
to pursue a successful of Understanding signed with Noor Islamic Bank to launch banking
diversification strategy, services for the low-income segment. In addition, Emirates Post and
acquiring new its subsidiary Wall Street began disbursing workers salaries through
businesses and post offices and mobile units. Emirates Post Holding Group also
forming plans to launch postal business centres across the UAE and GCC in
new alliances. partnership with leading business groups.
Al Ain International Airport has been selected as the main hub for
the international courier and cargo business Empost, launched in
2007. Plans are to acquire 50 aircraft by 2012 in order to expand
the service. The scheduled freighter operations, which will be
implemented in four phases, will network with major cities in the
Indian subcontinent, Middle East and Europe by the end of 2008.
At the twenty-fourth Universal Postal Union (UPU) Congress, the
UAE was re-elected to the 40-member Council of Administration
(CA) and was elected to the 40-member Postal Operations Council
(POC) for 2009 to 2012, reflecting the important role that it has
been playing in the Union.
S O C I AL DE VELOPMENT

The UAE is founded on the belief that

the real wealth of the country is its
people and, in particular, the
younger generation.
There is a deep awareness in the UAE
that sustained economic growth can
only be achieved by investment in
social development.
 205

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
THERE IS A DEEP AWARENESS IN THE UAE that the only guarantee of
sustained development is continuous investment in education,
health and social services, with the provision of meaningful
employment for all. But it is also clear that money alone is not the
answer, particularly since billions of dirhams have already been
spent on these sectors. Therefore, UAE Federal Government strategy
has put renewed emphasis on quality, focusing on best practices in
the delivery of all aspects of social development in the UAE.
This is the theme also of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council Policy
Agenda: key elements of the emirate’s vision for the development of
social and human resources describe a society characterised by the
provision of world-class services, where individuals (both national
and expatriate) are valued and their unique skills and contributions
are ethically leveraged toward achieving a better quality of life for all.
Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 also concurs with these sentiments,
stressing that strategic success requires social development to
complement and parallel economic development, and that having
an effective social infrastructure is the key to reaching higher levels
of sustained economic growth.
Although there are challenges ahead and much remains to be
done in the area of social development, there is no doubt that UAE
society is already very happy with its lot: the UN Human Development
Index ranks the UAE at thirty-ninth place out of 177 countries, and
at twenty-eighth the UAE earned the highest ranking of all Arab
states in the 2008 Legatum Prosperity Index, which measures not
just wealth but also well-being in terms of happiness, health and
fulfilment in over 100 countries worldwide.

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POPULATION
The UAE population increased by a staggering 74.8 per cent between
1995 and 2005, the date of the last census. This is one of the highest
population growth rates in the world. Estimated by the Ministry of the
Economy (MoE) at 4.488 million in 2007, the population is expected
to increase by 6.12 per cent to reach 4.76 million at the end of 2008
and by 6.31 per cent to 5.06 million at the end of 2009.
The ratio of nationals to non-nationals remains high: a breakdown
of the 2007 figures indicates that there were 864,000 UAE nationals
and 3.62 million expatriates in the country in 2007, the national
population increasing by 2.9 per cent over 2006, while the
corresponding figure for expatriates was 6.9 per cent. The local
population is forecast to rise by 3.2 per cent in 2008 and 3.4 per
cent in 2009, whilst the expatriate population will increase by 6.8
per cent in 2008 and 6.9 per cent in 2009.
In addition, males continue to outnumber females because the
majority of the thousands of immigrants that the UAE welcomes each
year are men: the figures show that there were 3.08 million males
and 1.4 million females in the country at the end of 2007. This will
rise to 3.28 million males and 1.47 million females in 2008 and 3.5
million males and 1.58 million females in 2009.
The higher growth rate in the expatriate population means that
expatriates will constitute 81.2 per cent of the total in 2008 and 81.7
per cent in 2009. However, even though UAE nationals comprise a
small percentage of the total population, their numbers have actually
doubled in the past 15 years.
Abu Dhabi was the most populated emirate in the UAE at the end of
2007, with a total of 1.493 million people. Dubai was second, with
around 1.478 million, followed by Sharjah, with nearly 882,000. Umm
al-Qaiwain was the least populated, with around 52,000 inhabitants.
Dubai’s population is forecast to rise to 1.59 million in 2008 and 1.722
million in 2009, while Abu Dhabi’s is estimated at 1.55 million in 2008
and 1.62 million in 2009.
Despite its significant population growth rate, the UAE’s per capita
income has more than doubled from around Dh76,600 in 2006 to
Dh162,000 in 2007 because nominal gross domestic product rocketed
from Dh624 billion to Dh729 billion in the same period. Per capita
income is forecast to rise further in 2008.
POPULATION BY GENDER AND EMIRATE 2006–2007* (in thousands)

Males Females Total

MALES FEMALES
Emirates 2006 2007 2006 2007 2006 2007
3,000
Abu Dhabi.................................945.............982.............485.............511.........1,430.........1,493
2,500
Dubai .......................................1,032.........1,121.............340.............357.........1,372.........1,478
Sharjah........................................539.............581.............282.............301.............821.............882 2,000

Ajman..........................................135.............144 ...............77 ...............80.............212.............224 1,500

Umm al-Qaiwain.......................31 ...............32 ...............19 ...............20 ...............50 ...............52 1,000

Ras al-Khaimah .......................132.............138 ...............82 ...............84.............214.............222
500
Fujairah..........................................81 ...............86 ...............49 ...............51.............130.............137
0
Total ..................................2,895.......3,084.......1,334.......1,404.......4,229.......4,488 2006 2007 2006 2007

Source: Ministry of Economy * Preliminary estimates

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POPULATION BY GENDER AND AGE GROUP 2005–2007

2005 2006 2007

Age group Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female Total
Under 15 416,317 384,254 800,571 427,779 393,746 821,525 450,233 413,658 863,891
15–39 1,753,709 714,819 2,468,528 1,810,437 733,797 2,544,234 1,935,658 772,203 2,707,861
40–59 595,832 177,218 773,050 615,451 181,949 797,400 654,709 191,607 846,316
Over 60 40,294 23,984 64,278 41,333 24,508 65,841 43,300 25,532 68,832
Total 2,806,152 1,300,275 4,106,427 2,895,000 1,334,000 4,229,000 3,083,900 1,403,000 4,486,900
Source: UAE Central Bank Annual Report * Mid-year estimates

NATIONAL IDENTITY
350,000
Despite the large influx of immigrants and the demographic
300,000
imbalances that ensue, the UAE continues to be a tolerant, open caring
250,000
society that cherishes its religious and traditional roots. Nevertheless,
200,000
there is a renewed focus in the country on the need to nurture a strong
150,000 national identity.
100,000 A national identity study conducted in 2008 by the Ministry of
50,000 Culture, Youth and Community Development in association with local
0 universities and an international consultant underlined the role a
2005 2006 2007
strong national identity plays in sustainable development. The study,
which took one year and covered the age group between 18 and 60
years in all emirates, explored weaknesses in the national identity
structure and attempts to devise effective solutions. In particular, the
study highlighted the vital role of the media in inculcating and
infusing the spirit of loyalty and belonging, and translation of these
principles in daily life practice in terms of productivity and good
behaviour. The final goal is to nurture a generation who firmly believes
in national identity, prudent leadership, Arab culture, Islamic faith and
a shared history and heritage.
The Ministries of Presidential Affairs, Cabinet Affairs and Culture are
coordinating mechanisms for implementing the study.

EIDA
The Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA), which was established in 2004,
is responsible for the Population Register Programme, a centralised
database of all UAE nationals and residents. Registration with the
agency is compulsory for all ages.
208 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

POPULATION BY GENDER AND AGE GROUP 2006–2007 (in thousands)

2005 2006 2007

Age group Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female Total
Under 15 416,317 384,254 800,571 427,779 393,746 821,525 450,233 413,658 862,991
15–39 1,753,709 714,819 2,48,528 1,810,437 733,797 2,544,234 1,935,658 722,203 2,708,861
40–59 595,832 177,218 773,050 615,451 181,949 797,400 654,709 191,607 846,316
Over 60 40,294 23,984 64,278 41,333 24,508 65,841 43,300 25,532 68,832
Total 2,806,152 1,300,275 4,106,427 2,895,000 1,334,000 4,229,000 3,084,000 1,404,000 4,488,000
Source: UAE Central Bank Annual Report * Mid-year estimates

NATIONAL IDENTITY
350.000
Despite the large influx of immigrants and the demographic
300,000
imbalances that ensue, the UAE continues to be a tolerant, open caring
250,000
society that cherishes its religious and traditional roots. Nevertheless,
200,000
there is a renewed focus in the country on the need to nurture a strong
150.000 national identity.
100,000 A national identity study conducted in 2008 by the Ministry of
50,000 Culture, Youth and Community Development in association with local
0 universities and an international consultant underlined the role a
2005 2006 2007
strong national identity plays in sustainable development. The study,
which took one year and covered the age group between 18 and 60
years in all emirates, explored weaknesses in the national identity
structure and attempts to devise effective solutions. In particular, the
study highlighted the vital role of the media in inculcating and
infusing the spirit of loyalty and belonging, and translation of these
principles in daily life practice in terms of productivity and good
behaviour. The final goal is to nurture a generation who firmly believes
in national identity, prudent leadership, Arab culture, Islamic faith and
a shared history and heritage.
The Ministries of Presidential Affairs, Cabinet Affairs and Culture are
coordinating mechanisms for implementing the study.

EIDA
The Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA), which was established in 2004,
is responsible for the Population Register Programme, a centralised
database of all UAE nationals and residents. Registration with the
agency is compulsory for all ages.
 S O C I A L D E V E LO PM E N T 209

In addition, all nationals and professional expatriates are required All nationals
to obtain an identity card (ID) by the end of 2008. ID cards will be and professional
mandatory for expatriate residents by 2010. The new IDs will be expatriates were
multi-purpose smart cards, which will replace e-signature card, required to obtain a
labour cards, etc. Emiratis and professional expatriates without national identity card
identity cards will not be able to avail of services from government, by the end of 2008.
semi-government and possibly even some private organisations from
the beginning of 2009, and all expatriates in the country will be
required to produce a national identity card for governmental, semi-
governmental and private transactions by the end of 2010. An ID
card for under 15s is not mandatory, but registration for under 15s
is compulsory
About 5000 EIDA registration centres countrywide are ready to
receive applications from the public. By law, it is incumbent on
companies, not employees, to pay all the charges and fees related to
the issuing of identity cards. Companies will be offered an incentive
package to register their workers as soon as possible. Companies
and individuals that are not compliant will not be able to complete
any application at government offices without the IDs.
The task of registering and issuing identity cards to about 5 million
people by 2010 will cost in the region of Dh202 million (US$55 million).
Information on registration can be obtained from www.emiratesid.ae.

Saqr Ghobash,
LABOUR UAE Minister of Labour
participating in the Global
Forum on Migration and
The UAE Ministry of Economy (MoE) has estimated that the Development in Manila .
unemployment rate will rise from nearly 3.45 per cent in 2007 to about
3.71 per cent in 2008 and 3.86 per cent in 2009.
The figures showed the workforce accounted for around 63.2 per
cent of the UAE's total population of 4.488 million in 2007. This will
increase slightly to 63.8 per cent of the 4.765 million population in
2008 and 64.4 per cent of the population of 5.066 million in 2009.

National Employment
Expatriates currently hold 99 per cent of jobs in the private sector
and 91 per cent of positions in the government. As the economy grows,
there is a risk that nationals will make up a progressively smaller

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EMPLOYEES BY ECONOMIC SECTOR 2005–2007

Sectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2005 . . . . . . 2006* . . . . . 2007**
3.5
Non-financial enterprises sector . . . . . . . 2,111,332 . . . 2,286,572 . . . 2,466,294
3.0 Agriculture, livestock & fisheries . . . . . . . . . . . 193,044 . . . . . 209,066 . . . . . 225,499
Extractive industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38,694. . . . . . . 41,906. . . . . . . 45,199
2.5
population in millions

Crude oil & natural gas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33,200. . . . . . . 35,956. . . . . . . 38,783

Quarries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,494 . . . . . . . . 5,950 . . . . . . . . 6,418
2.0
Manufacturing industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336,585 . . . . . 364,521 . . . . . 393,173
1.5 Water, gas & electricity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34,207. . . . . . . 37,046. . . . . . . 39,958
Contruction & building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 534,398 . . . . . 578,753 . . . . . 624,242
1.0
Wholesale/retail trade & maintenance . . . . . 502,427 . . . . . 544,129 . . . . . 586,897
0.5 Restaurants & hotels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116,615 . . . . . 126,294 . . . . . 136,220
Transportation, storage & communication . 162,768 . . . . . 176,278 . . . . . 190,000
0 Real estate & business services . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77,858. . . . . . . 84,320. . . . . . . . . . . 91
2005 2006 2007
Social & private services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114,736 . . . . . 124,259 . . . . . 134,026
Financial services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31,015. . . . . . 33,589. . . . . . 36,229
Government services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286,105. . . . . 309,851. . . . . 334,207
Household . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222,506 . . . . . 240,975 . . . . . 259,916
TOTAL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,650,958 . . . 2,870,987 . . . 3,096.645
Source: Ministry of Economy * Preliminary data ** Estimates

More than 800,000 jobs percentage of employees in the UAE. If trends continue, by 2009, UAE
are created each year in nationals will account for less than 8 per cent of the workforce and for
the UAE and most of less than 4 per cent by 2020.
them are provided by More than 800,000 jobs are created each year in the UAE and
the private sector. most of them are provided by the private sector. However, up to 10
per cent of employed nationals resign each year due to problems in
the workplace. Common reasons for discontent include low wages
in the private sector; lack of training and development opportunities;
negative stereotyping of locals; and a lack of trust between employees
and employers.
It is generally accepted that there is a need for additional policies to
guarantee a more significant representation of UAE nationals across
the country's labour force, particularly the private sector. Accordingly,
emiratisation of the workforce is a key focus of government policy and
a growing number of companies in the UAE are taking measures to
increase the number of nationals in their employment. The challenge
is to foster a larger pool of qualified and trained UAE nationals who
are fully equipped to take up responsibilities in the workplace.
 S O C I A L D E V E LO PM E N T 211

Programmes undertaken in 2008 in pursuit of this goal include the It is generally accepted
launching by ershaad, the national recruitment initiative, of its website that there is a need
www.ershaad.ae and recruitment guide in April 2008. UAE nationals for additional policies
looking for jobs are invited to visit the website and register their to guarantee a
resumes online for free. Companies in the UAE who are seeking high
more significant
calibre UAE nationals are also invited to register.
representation of
In October 2008, the Abu Dhabi Systems and Information
Committee (ADSIC), the information and communication technology UAE nationals in the
(ICT) arm of Abu Dhabi government, launched the Jobs Abu Dhabi labour force.
virtual job market, www.Jobs.abudhabi.ae. The latter is available in
Arabic, English and French, creating a forum for both employers and
jobseekers at home and abroad to connect and fulfil their respective
employment needs.
Tanmia, the UAE's National Human Resource Development and
Employment Authority, is one of the organisations that has been
given a mandate to develop human resources in the UAE, at the
same time maximising employment opportunities for UAE nationals
and promoting emiratisation.
Tanmia’s many duties include the provision of training and career
guidance to ensure that there is a suitably qualified pool of national
jobseekers. In addition, Tanmia organises seminars on the importance
of emiratisation and works with leading institutions such as Emirates
University and Dubai Industrial Academy, to further their goals.
Supported by GCC governments, Tanmia is also initiating a Gulf
Network that aims to reduce unemployment among nationals of the
GCC countries, where the unemployment rate averages 6 to 7 per
cent among GCC nationals, despite the fact that these countries
provide 15 to 17 million job opportunities for foreign nationals.
The UAE intends to give priority to UAE nationals and any remaining
jobs will be offered to GCC nationals, then to Arab nationals. The
programme will be a long-term one and initiating it now will mean
that, 12 years hence, more jobs will be available for GCC nationals in
all of these countries. The hope is that the Gulf Network will eventually
become an Arab network where any unemployed national in the Arab
region will be able to find jobs in the private sector.
In addition, Tanmia is focusing on increasing employment of
nationals in the government sector and to this end has signed an MoU
with the Ministry for Development of the Governmental Sector
whereby Tanmia will provide the ministry with access to its database
of registered jobseekers. The two parties will also cooperate with each

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other to jointly organise special training programmes and seminars

aimed at equipping UAE national jobseekers with the necessary skill
sets that will allow them to perform to their potential in the workplace.
Other governmental bodies, such as the Abu Dhabi Emiratisation
Council, are also actively pursuing an emiratisation strategy, including
opening up employment opportunities for UAE nationals and
providing on-job skills training.

LABOUR RIGHTS
For the UAE, respect For the UAE, respect for labour rights is a matter of both fundamental
for labour rights is a morality and economic self-interest. It is also a matter of accountability,
matter of both a responsibility that the UAE welcomes and accepts.
fundamental morality The Ministry of Labour issued a detailed labour progress report
in 2007 highlighting the UAE’s respect for labour rights and the
and economic
challenges being posed to the labour-rights regime by the economic
self-interest.
boom and demographic structure changes in the UAE.
As a member of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the
Arab Labour Organisation (ALO), and other labour-focused multilateral
organisations, the report stresses that the UAE deals transparently
and objectively with all its international labour obligations. And
that it views reasoned and rational internal and external criticism as
constructive and helpful.
The report provides a synopsis of the positive changes that the UAE
is making to manage, enhance, and broaden the laws and policies
needed to provide a nationwide system of labour rights. It also outlines
and clarifies specific measures that have been undertaken and that are
being undertaken by the UAE Government. As with any complex
society, new challenges and new problems are constantly arising,
especially as demographics change. The report is both a progress
assessment and a blueprint for ongoing action.
In 2007, 122,000 As the UAE Government acknowledges, much more needs to be
facilities were done to enforce labour laws and to fully protect the rights of workers
inspected by the in the country. The report points out that current progress needs to
be viewed in this context. In particular, the expatriate labour force in
labour ministry
the UAE is exceptionally large and culturally diverse, accounting for
personnel, resulting in
more than 90 per cent of the private sector labour force. Ministry of
penalties for 8588
Labour records indicate that a total of 3,113,000 foreign workers
violations related to are employed by approximately 260,000 establishments. Meeting
working conditions the challenges presented by such numbers takes diligence, time,
and workers' rights. and both fiscal and management resources.
 The UAE labour progress report underlines the country's full In October 2008 the
engagement in providing quality labour rights. Moreover, the report UAE Government took
illustrates that there is unequivocal commitment to enhancing the the initiative, in
existing legal framework to mandate and support labour rights consultation with other
throughout the UAE. It also highlights the evolution of an enforcement GCC member states,
regime that is able and willing to take the many steps needed to
to propose to the
defend labour rights for all who work in the UAE
Governments of India
The report points out that the UAE is, nonetheless, committed to
and the Philippines,
preserving its national identity, to further the interests of those who
live and work in the country, and to continue economic growth at all the setting up of a pilot
levels. The UAE Government continues to administer the UAE labour project to survey and
environment in compliance with international law and international document best
labour standards and the private sector understands that all laws in practices in the
the UAE are being and will continue to be strictly enforced. By management of the
harmonising all of these components, the UAE intends to be a temporary contractual
model for all countries in the GCC region and beyond. employment cycle.

Forum on Migrant Labour

Engagement and dialogue with countries of origin of migrant labour
in a spirit of shared responsibility and partnership is a key aspect of
government strategy to find solutions to labour market challenges
both domestically and internationally. The process was clearly
outlined by Saqr Ghobash, UAE Minister of Labour, in his address to
the Opening Plenary Session of the Global Forum on Migration and
Development in Manila on 29 October 2008:

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Almost 3 million Asian contract workers leave their countries every year to seek employment around the
world. A large majority opts for employment in the Gulf States. In 2007, there were several million of these
workers in the UAE, working in sectors as diverse as hospitality, health care, technology, the oil and gas
industry, financial services and construction. As the numbers of these workers grow and the sectors in which
they work become more diversified, their impact is increasingly felt at national, regional and global levels. In
brief, contractual workers contribute significantly to the development of both their countries of origin and
those where they work, improving, at the same time, their own economic situation and that of their families.
For those benefits to be fully realised, however, labour mobility needs to be effectively managed
through the formulation of appropriate legal and policy frameworks, through the development of
administrative structures and through on-going capacity building.
In the past, progress towards these objectives has been seriously hampered by the fact that countries
of origin and destination often had separate agendas as well as different – and not infrequently,
conflicting – priorities for action.
It is precisely for this reason that the UAE has attached such importance in recent years to improving
dialogue with individual countries of origin and seeking the establishment of broader consultations at
the multilateral level.
In September 2005, the UAE, together with other Gulf States, attended on an informal basis the third
Ministerial Consultations on Overseas Employment and Contractual Labour for Countries of Origin in
Asia, more commonly known as the Colombo Process, There, participants discussed the evolution of
patterns of labour mobility in the region over the last decade as well as a wide range of policy issues and
recommendations including:
• Increasing cooperation between countries of origin and destination;
• Optimising the benefits of organised labour flows, including the development of new markets,
increasing remittance flows through formal channels and enhancing their impact on development;
• Ensuring the welfare and well-being of vulnerable overseas workers, especially women; and
• Building institutional capacity and inter-ministerial coordination to meet the challenges posed by
labour mobility.
In the light of these recommendations, the UAE took the initiative of hosting earlier this year a two-day
Ministerial consultation in Abu Dhabi that brought together twenty countries of origin and destination
in Asia alongside leading international and regional organisations.
The discussions noted that temporary contractual labour was a well-established concept in Asia, but
acknowledged that processes of globalisation, involving the freer movement of capital, the greater integration
of economies and technological advances, provided a context in which there is increasing competition to
boost economic growth and productivity through labour mobility at all skill levels. In this connection,
the Ministers considered that the best social and economic outcomes would be achieved through the
promotion and implementation of transparent policies, through the institution of fair and efficient
recruitment and employment practices and through the provision of good living and working conditions.
The participating Ministers agreed to a declaration of principles now known as the Abu Dhabi Declaration.
The Declaration stresses that countries of origin, countries of destination and, most importantly, the
workers themselves benefit when workers’ rights are effectively recognised and respected.
 S O C I A L D E V E LO PM E N T 215

The Abu Dhabi Declaration underlines, in particular, that countries of origin benefit when workers are
able to use their remittances to enhance their families’ living conditions and to improve the educational
status of their children, and to return home with skills and capital that contribute to the development of their
own countries. The Declaration goes on to propose the creation of four key partnerships between
countries of origin and destination with a view to:
• Enhancing the knowledge base on essential policy and programme components, such as labour
market trends, skills profiles and remittance flows;
• Building capacity for the effective matching of labour demand and supply;
• Preventing illegal recruitment practices and promoting welfare and protection measures for
contractual workers; and
• Developing a framework for a comprehensive approach to managing temporary contractual
mobility, covering the four phases of labour mobility, namely recruitment and pre-departure
preparation in the country of origin; installation and employment in the country of destination;
preparation for return; and return and reintegration in the community of origin.
Given the consonance between these partnership objectives and the well-articulated goals of the
Philippine Chairmanship of this second Global Forum on Migration and Development, the UAE took the
decision to join the GFMD Steering Committee and actively participate in the discussions that helped
frame the agenda and work programme for this Conference in Manila.
In parallel with this, the UAE Government took the initiative, in consultation with other GCC member
states, to propose to the Governments of India and the Philippines the setting up of a pilot project to
survey and document best practices in the management of the temporary contractual employment
cycle. The three governments have now agreed to collaborate towards the development of such a pilot
project with expert input from the Arab Labour Organisation, the International Labour Organisation and
the International Organisation on Migration.
The overall goal of the project is, to put it simply, to test a range of practical measures that will serve
to improve the quality of life and work of contractual workers. In more specific terms, the project seeks
first of all to improve the quality of recruitment, induction and other pre-deployment processes, and
then to provide the workers with decent working and living conditions during their temporary
contractual employment and residency in the host country. Two important innovations complete the
picture :the preparation of temporary contractual workers for return to their country of origin; and the
facilitation of their ultimate return to and reintegration into their home communities. All of this is to be
undertaken in a spirit of shared responsibility and partnership.
The project will leverage the introduction in the UAE of new policy guidelines and enforceable
measures that ensure the protection of wages, the provision of adequate work and living conditions,
access to avenues of legal redress, and the upholding of fundamental human rights.
We are confident that valuable lessons will be learnt from this experience. Ultimately we hope that we
might be able to draw from it the substance of a draft comprehensive regional framework for cooperation
among Asian countries of origin and destination that will demonstrate lessons learned and best practices in
the effective administration of the full temporary contractual employment cycle. The formulation of this
future framework for regional cooperation was a key recommendation of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue.

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HUMAN TRAFFICKING
The problem of human trafficking afflicts the UAE just as it does
almost every other country in the world. Nevertheless, the UAE is
firmly against the exploitation of human beings for any purposes and
against the coercive, illegal and inhumane treatment of any individual.
Indeed, the first annual report released by the UAE National Committee
to Combat Human Trafficking in mid-2008 stressed that the UAE is
committed to doing everything in its power to help stop human
trafficking wherever it occurs and to aggressively interdict those
who are responsible for it with the toughest possible penalties.
‘Combating Human Trafficking in the UAE 2007’ highlighted the
country's stand on the crime, the efforts to counter it, the obstacles
and challenges it has encountered, as well as plans for the future.
The report, released ahead of the UAE's participation at the UN General
Assembly debate on trafficking in New York, focused on the measures
taken since Federal Law 51 came into force. The 16-article law,
effective since November 2006, spells out stiff penalties against
traffickers ranging from one year to life imprisonment and fines of
Dh100,000 and Dh1 million.
According to the report, at least ten allegations of human trafficking-
related infringements of the new law were registered by the end of
The UAE is acting on 2007. There were also convictions in at least five cases during this
every front of its period, with the convicted receiving jail terms ranging from three to ten
four-pillar strategy: years for committing, aiding or abetting human trafficking.
legislation, The country's resolve to fight human trafficking at home and abroad
enforcement, victim in collaboration with international partners remains central to its
support, bilateral counter-trafficking strategy. HH General Sheikh Mohammad bin
Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme
agreements and
Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has cemented this resolve with
international
a generous donation to the UN.GIFT to establish an international
cooperation.
network to fight this crime.
Simultaneously, the
In parallel to the UAE's tough stand on anyone convicted of
UAE will continue to trafficking, the report also documented measures that reflect the
cooperate with all UAE's concern about the victims of this crime and their physical and
appropriate regional emotional well-being. The report outlined the progress that the UAE
and international law has achieved with regards to the victim support network, noting the
enforcement officials important work carried out by the Dubai Foundation for Women and
to stem this crime. Children and the new shelter in Abu Dhabi for victims of trafficking.
 S O C I A L D E V E LO PM E N T 217

Specific measures associated with the UAE's comprehensive four-

pillar action plan (legislation, enforcement, victim support, bilateral
agreements and international partnerships) were elaborated on in
the report. The report concluded by emphasising that ‘the UAE
has achieved much in a short period of time, but realises that
much more needs to be done to combat the challenge. The country
is committed to serving as an active member of the international
community, as well as a model for change in the region and takes
these responsibilities seriously’.

HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT

The ‘UAE National Human Rights Report’, which was presented to the ‘With a deep aspiration
UN Human Rights Council on 4 December 2008 under the framework to improve, the UAE is
of its Universal Periodic Review procedures, outlines the efforts keen on tackling
made by the UAE in the field of human rights observance. human rights issues
The report, which was prepared by a committee comprising
head on. This
representatives from various ministries and government institutions,
aspiration stems from
with the participation of representatives from civil society and
our own cultural
non-government organisations (NGOs), concludes that the UAE is
committed to continuing its work to preserve what has already been heritage and religious
accomplished in the field of human rights, and will continue to values that enshrine
work diligently to improve on its record by following the best justice, equality and
international practices in this field, at the same time identifying some tolerance.. . The
of the challenges facing the country in this field, including the following: government is also
• Providing more mechanisms to protect human rights, keeping up aware that respecting
with national and international developments, and updating laws human rights in
and systems; accordance with
• Meeting the state's expectations with regards to building nationa international human
capabilities and deepening efforts for education on human rights rights charters and
and basic freedoms through a national plan. customs is a priority,
• Striving to regulate the relationship between employers and and we look towards
workers in framework that preserves dignity and rights, and is in meeting this priority at
harmony with international standards, especially with regards to all levels.’
domestic help.
• Despite what has been accomplished for women, the larger
challenge is increasing the empowerment of women's role in
society, increasing opportunities for involvement in a number
of fields based on their skills and abilities, supporting their

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218 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
The UAE is studying the
establishment of a
national human rights
commission in the
country, in line with the
Paris Principles. The
Government is also
seeking to enhance
cooperation with the
Human Rights Council.
participation in economic activity, and dedicating policies that will
increase and support their abilities and encourage them to fulfill
their responsibilities as essential partners in development.
• Working to confront human trafficking crimes by reviewing the
best international practices in the field, working to update and
improve the state's legislature in accordance with international
standards, working to establish institutions and agencies to
confront human trafficking crimes, and working to support the
foundations of international cooperation with international
organisations and institutions.
A dedicated link was established on the Ministry of State for Federal
National Council Affairs website (www.mfnca.ae) where the public
could view outlines of the report and express their views and make
suggestions – an initiative that reflects the committee’s commitment
to maintaining accuracy and transparency in preparing the report.
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
The UN Global Compact GCC Network was formed in 2008 in Dubai
to assist enlightened regional companies seeking practical solutions
to contemporary problems related to globalisation, sustainable
development and corporate responsibility. UAE companies are
joining this growing worldwide movement encouraging businesses to
adopt core values in the areas of human rights, labour standards, the
environment and corruption, in accordance with the UN Global
Compact, the world's largest voluntary corporate citizenship initiative.
An example of the corporate social responsibility principles being
put into practice in the UAE is the MoU signed in August 2008 between
the UAE Ministry of Social Affairs and telecom operator du to establish
a comprehensive web portal of non-governmental organisations
(NGOs) in the country. Besides acting as a comprehensive source of
factual information on all the NGOs in the UAE, the proposed web
portal will showcase the work of each organisation. It will also facilitate
volunteering in the UAE by presenting all the available opportunities
on one platform.
In recognition of the role that NGOs play in forging links between
the public and private sector, the Ministry of Social Affairs is also
 S O C I A L D E V E LO PM E N T 219

collaborating with Sharjah Tatweer Forum in several initiatives,

including arranging a conference and exhibition for NGOs. Participants
included organisations from the private sector, governmental and
public sector, academia, civil society, international organisations
such as the United Nations, and various individuals who are active
in NGO work.
To further enhance the work of NGOs, the Community Development
Authority (CDA) was recently set up in Dubai to act as an umbrella
for social service organisations and to promote national identity by
empowering UAE nationals, thereby enhancing social cohesion. CDA,
which is implementing the social objectives of the Dubai government
as highlighted in the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015, is tasked with
instituting a legal framework under which the NGOs would fall.

EMIRATES FOUNDATION
Emirates Foundation, a government-backed philanthropic organisation, ExxonMobil has
was established in 2005. Following a period of consolidation in 2007, made a donation
the foundation is now entering an expansionist phase. In particular, of US$5 million to
it has researched and planned a series of 50 new initiatives for the the work of the
period 2008/09 within its six core areas of operation – education,
Emirates Foundation
science and technology, arts and culture, social development, the
over the three-year
environment and public awareness.
period from 2008
Emirates Foundation has called upon the private sector to actively
participate in its new strategic philanthropic programmes for the to 2010.
benefit of communities throughout the UAE. At the foundation's
unique donors' recognition meeting in September 2007, the Abu Dhabi
government announced that it would match all private sector donations
to Emirates Foundation up to that date (some Dh300 million), as well as
meeting the foundation's future administrative expenses.
In 2007 the foundation launched the Tatween Initiative (localisation
in English) to empower young nationals. Its declared aim is to unlock
local talent through self-development and self-motivation, thereby
equipping young Emiratis with the right workplace skills to flourish in
the growing UAE private sector. Eight initial Tawteen projects were
announced by BP, Shell, Microsoft, Rolls Royce, International Power,
DLA Piper, Jumeirah, the British Council and Gems Education.
The projects cover career guidance counselling; youth leadership
development, industry and academic summer schools, career resource
centres, internships in the private sector, empowering women in

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Takatof is a voluntary social
programme that was
developed by the Emirates
Foundation to create a
culture of volunteering
throughout the UAE.
The Mohammed bin
Rashid Programme
for Leadership
Development is an
innovative leadership
programme aimed at
nurturing national
leaders who are
willing and able to
promote sustainable
development in
the UAE.
the workplace, entrepreneurship and innovation, and vocational
training awareness.
The Tawteen projects are not job creation schemes in themselves.
However, they are designed to directly assist Emiratis in overcoming
the social and cultural obstacles that hinder personal development,
while opening the door to thousands of employment opportunities in
the UAE private sector.
In particular, the Tawteen Youth Leadership Project focuses on
unlocking youth leadership potential in the UAE. In one of its first
endeavours, selected groups of young Emiratis participated in intense
leadership and team building activities in the mountains of Ra’s al-
Khaimah. The programmes help the youth to acquire self-confidence,
skills and the right mind-set to succeed as tomorrow's leaders. Private
sector partners involved in the camps are BP and Aldar Properties.
Young Emiratis from the Emirates Foundation's Takatof Programme
have been trained as team leaders for the camps, and they gain
valuable experience in facilitation, team management and motivation.
Takatof (‘shoulder to shoulder’) a voluntary social programme,
was developed by the Emirates Foundation to create a culture of
volunteering throughout the UAE, mobilising volunteers to help those in
need. In 2008,Takatof volunteers from UAE assisted their counterparts
in Morocco in community projects renovating hospitals, orphanages
and schools in disadvantaged areas and helping to clean up beaches.
In August 2008, Emirates Foundation launched a Dh2.5 million
grant programme in support of non-governmental organisations
involved in social and educational activities. Funds can be used for
training, improved services, new programmes, project expansion,
institutional strengthening, analysis and other activities that contribute
to the effectiveness and sustainability of the organisation. The
maximum amount of funding for each submission is Dh500,000 over
a two-year period.
The project is designed so that non-governmental organisations with
the right expertise can benefit the most from funding in order to
improve and expand the work that they are doing.
Leadership Development
The Mohammed bin Rashid Programme for Leadership Development
(MBRPLD) is an innovative leadership programme aimed at developing
national leaders who are willing and able to promote the sustainable
development of the UAE. In summer 2008 candidates of its Young
 S O C I A L D E V E LO PM E N T 221

Leaders Programme participated in international study tours in

France and the United States. Held under the theme 'Dubai Opening',
programme candidates met high-ranking officials and interacted
with renowned lecturers and speakers.
Participants were exposed to highly enriching discussions and
interaction with prominent and experienced leaders, enhancing their
experience and expertise in handling various leadership issues
and boosting their capacity to promote the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015.

ABU DHABI AWARDS

The Abu Dhabi Awards recognise those individuals who have made
a positive contribution to the community through their generosity
and kindness, honouring the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin
Sultan Al Nahyan.
Since its inception in 2005, the Abu Dhabi Awards have generated
more than 93,000 nominations which have recognised more than
13,000 individuals for performing selfless acts of goodness that benefit
the people of Abu Dhabi. There are no specific award categories –
anyone who has performed an act of kindness, no matter how big or
small can be nominated.
In order to reach as many people as possible the 2008 campaign
Voting for the
designed a dynamic new website www.abudhabiawards.ae. featuring
Abu Dhabi Awards.
‘The Wall of Goodness’ and a student-generated Facebook group.
The 2008 Abu Dhabi Awards Ambassadors include past recipients
such as the inspirational Mrs Farida Siddiqui, a notable social activist
and volunteer for a range of charitable organisations including the
Red Crescent Society, and Emad Mohammed Saad, an Abu Dhabi
Municipality engineer who is active in several NGOs and has
spearheaded successful environmental awareness programmes in
schools and other educational institutions.

SOCIAL SERVICES
No matter how prosperous the society, the vulnerable will always be
in need of assistance and the provision of social services are a key
component of social development. Social security benefits in the
form of financial assistance are administered by the Ministry of Social
Affairs. In recent years, the social care net has been widened to include
additional categories of potential recipients.

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There has been a rise in the number of assistance cases from

33,500 in 2006 to nearly 38,000 in 2008, with beneficiaries receiving
assistance of Dh2.2 billion. Cases involving the elderly accounted
for 36.9 per cent of the total in 2007, whilst divorcees constituted 13.3
per cent; medical disability cases represented 10.4 per cent and
those experiencing poverty represented 10.5 per cent.
Practical help is offered by the network of ministry-supported
social centres run by the General Women’s Union (see section
below on Women). But the stars of the social care system are the 33
mentally handicapped care centres (government, private and local)
serving 3339 individuals. In addition to education, professional
training and rehabilitation, these centres offer medical treatment and
enable the handicapped to integrate into the community.
As well as to the assistance outlined above UAE citizens are eligible
for free or subsidised housing and housing programmes such as
the Zayed Housing Programme (ZHP) give priority to the needs of
deserving cases, such as widows, divorced women and people with
special needs.

HOUSING
Access to modern housing is considered to be the right of every
citizen. The rapid rise in population and the subsequent demands
on the housing stock, coupled with a significant increase in rents,
has necessitated government intervention at federal and emirate
level to ensure that the housing needs of nationals are met throughout
the federation in a balanced and sustainable manner.
A pilot government housing scheme, the Dh940 million Dhafra
Meadows at Madinat Zayed, features 788 separate villas, 39 attached
villas and 400 apartments. The project is organised around the
expanded family and fareej (district) concept, based on the traditional
organisation of Emirati settlements. Construction of villas has been
divided into four phases 200 will be completed by the end of June
2009, 114 will be built in the second phase, 274 will be built for
military personnel in the third phase, and the fourth phase of 200
villas will be paid for by the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme (ZHP)
at a total cost of Dh19 million.
As we have already mentioned, organisations such as ZHP are
instrumental in providing homes for UAE citizens. In his address to
the First Housing Conference organised by ZHP in cooperation with
the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, Sheikh Hamdan
 S O C I A L D E V E LO PM E N T 223

bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Public Works and Chairman of

ZHP, indicated that all UAE nationals who applied for residential
help from the programme up to the end of 2007 will be allocated
housing by 2009. This is due in no small part to HH Sheikh Khalifa’s
pledge to construct 40,000 units and support the programme's budget
at the beginning of 2008.
In 2008, ZHP approved 1661 grants and distributed 60 houses
to UAE nationals in Al Ra'efa and Falaj Al Malla districts in Umm al-
Qaiwain emirate, as well as Khatt district in Ra’s al-Khaimah, at
a cost of Dh30 million. The residential units were distributed to UAE
nationals whose salaries exceed Dh10, 000 and who have the
ability to repay loans.
In addition, the Mohammed bin Rashid Housing Establishment
(MBRHE) has begun construction work on a Dh3 billion housing
project in the Al Barsha area of Dubai. The move represents phase one
of the 252 housing-unit-project, which will be executed in two
phases over a two-year period as part of a plan to construct 2300
housing units in the emirate. The MRHE grants three types of loans
to UAE nationals: housing loans for building of private houses;
the granting of Dh750,000 loan facilities for purchasing houses
(completed or uncompleted) for personal use; and the granting of a
maximum loan facility of Dh300,000 for expansion of a private house.
The MRHE has also drawn up a plan through which it will be
granting 150 loans per month to a tune of 1800 loans per year and
it has endorsed the building of 114 residential units costing Dh185
million for UAE nationals at Sha'biyat in Al Quoz. The new residential
units will replace old buildings, which are to be demolished.

SOCIAL WELFARE ORGANISATIONS

A wide array of governmental and non-governmental charitable A wide array of
organisations are involved in social welfare programmes in the UAE. governmental and
In addition to its international humanitarian activities (see section non-governmental
on Foreign Aid), the UAE Red Crescent Authority (RCA) is the largest charitable
charitable organisation in the country administering a wide array organisations are
of social, economic, health and educational programmes. The Red
involved in social
Crescent is also involved in the administration of charitable health
welfare programmes
initiatives at home and abroad (see Foreign Aid and the section on
in the UAE.
Health) in conjunction with organisations such as the Emirates World
Heart Group and 'Generous Hands' campaign.

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Roughly 70 per cent of funds distributed by The Sheikh Zayed

bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation go
to projects to benefit communities within the UAE.
The Khalifa bin Zayed Charity Foundation is also very active in the
UAE and during the month of Ramadan, the foundation distributed
food to 1.2 million people in the country, focusing on people with
limited resources in various emirates.
Eighty per cent of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Charitable
and Humanitarian Foundation’s budget is normally allocated to
projects within the UAE. The foundation’s domestic programmes
concentrate on education, medical treatment, food assistance, training
courses and housing.
The Bait Al Khair Society provides assistance to poor students and
emergency aid to those who have been hit by catastrophes. It also
works with other charity organisations to ensure that the needy get the
best of help.
In addition, Ajman Care Society, Sharjah City for Humanitarian
Services, Umm al-Qaiwain Humanitarian Services City, the Handicapped
Guardians Association and Taryam Omran Establishment for Cultural
and Humanitarian Services all do sterling work with the disabled.

EDUCATION
Education is seen as Education is seen as the key enabler in the context of the wide range
the key enabler in the of socio-economic challenges facing the country in the decades ahead.
context of the At present, the UAE offers a comprehensive education to male and
wide range of female students from kindergarten to university, with education for
socio-economic the country’s citizens being provided free at all levels. There is also
an extensive private education sector at primary, secondary and
challenges facing the
tertiary levels, while several thousand students of both sexes pursue
country in the
courses of higher education abroad at government expense.
decades ahead.
Despite the successes achieved in the educational field, the reality
is that in a country where the national population is overwhelmingly
youthful, it is imperative that the educational system is reformed
to produce employable national graduates. Government strategy is
now focusing on improving education standards, decentralisation of
the educational system and the more active involvement of the
private sector in the delivery of high-quality education being key
The UAE is reforming its
educational system in order
to produce employable
national graduates.
 components of educational policy. Government bodies, educational
consultants, policy advisors and education specialists are all working
to meet the challenges of transforming a centralised bureaucratic
system into a student-centred learning environment, whilst bringing
The challenge is to
international best practice into play. Curricula revision, teaching
transform a centralised standards and student performance are just some of the areas
bureaucratic system receiving attention. The goal is to produce graduates that are able
into a student-centred to compete not only in a regional knowledge-based economy but will
learning environment. also be competitive players on the global stage.
In recognition of the important role of education, the UAE Cabinet
allocated Dh9.706 billion or 23 per cent of its 2009 budget to
this sector.

Towards Educational Excellence

A key strategy in the overhaul of the learning environment in the
More than 648,000
UAE is the pursuit of decentralised policies and practices, in particular
students were enrolled
the decentralisation of direct monitoring of education from the
in 1259 public and federal Ministry of Education to education councils. The relationship
private schools between educational committees, educational councils in each emirate
in 2007/08. and educational zones is also more clearly defined.
 S O C I A L D E V E LO PM E N T 227

At the same time, the federal government has issued a new set of Significant changes in
by-laws governing the operation and monitoring of private schools Ministry of Education
in the UAE, to ensure that every child in the country receives a regulations require all
quality, uniform education. The new streamlined regulations form private schools to
the foundation of a system of monitoring that is focused on student
conform with
achievement and continuous school improvement, replacing the
standards adopted
old regime that was based on a static and regimented list of rules.
by the ministry.
Significant changes include requiring all private schools to become
accredited to standards adopted by the Ministry of Education and
creating a list of rights to give greater voice to families in their
relations with private schools.
The ministry will focus its efforts on providing leadership and
creating new policy initiatives to improve education while delegating
direct oversight of schools to the education councils. Although the
ministry still retains overall authority and responsibility for education,
this delegation will increase efficiency and effectiveness of the daily
operation of these schools.
Nevertheless, the ministry intends to keep tuition fees at affordable
levels, and education councils in each emirate will work closely with
the schools to ensure that the fees they charge are on a par with the
quality of education provided by them.

Education Councils
Education councils such as Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC),
which was restructured in 2008 under the chairmanship of HH General
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, are spearheading reform.
ADEC is mandated to supervise all education zones and schools in
the emirate; determine, develop and implement standards that will
be followed by all authorised education entities in the emirate; and
develop the human resources management strategy to deliver on its
vision. At the same time, ADEC will collaborate with the Ministry
of Education to improve national education policies, and the
Abu Dhabi government will continue to meet its existing federal
funding requirements.
In 2008, three taskforces comprising local, regional and international
experts were commissioned by ADEC to set a bold, new policy
framework for the future education system in the emirate.
The taskforces, which report directly to Sheikh Mohammed bin
Zayed, focused on the three main areas of education, P-12 education,

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New curricula will be
designed to meet
international standards
in education, at the
same time preparing
students for the needs
of the labour market.
The UAE is committed
to raising the age for
compulsory education
to 18 years.
vocational education, and higher education, at the same time
examining examples of best practice in some of the world’s most
successful education systems.
The process is ongoing but it is clear that new curricula will be
introduced over time. These will be designed to meet international
standards and will reinforce and strengthen courses in Arabic, Islamic
and social studies, and prepare students to fit labour market needs.
There will be more emphasis on developing critical thinking and
analytical skills and introducing vocational training. The new
education model will put students at the centre of the learning process.
Facilities, policies, curriculum and teachers will focus on improving
the educational experience for students and preparing them for a
dynamic and competitive market place. Training programmes for
teachers and school administrators will be introduced to help them
perform their responsibilities at an international standard and in line
with curriculum and student needs. In addition, school administrators
will be empowered to make decisions based on student, school and
community needs. Parents will have the opportunity to partner with
schools on education reform efforts and be further engaged in the
education of their children.
Schools of Tomorrow
Madaris Al Ghad (‘Schools of Tomorrow’) is a government-sponsored
pilot education initiative that will be gradually introduced to all
emirates. The project was launched in 2007 with 50 schools and the
necessary educational and services infrastructure is being restructured
so that the project can be applied across the board with the minimum
of disruption. Fourteen schools designed and built on modern
architectural concepts were inaugurated in 2008 and another seven will
be ready before the 2009/10 academic year.
However, the project is not just about bricks and mortar. It is, in
reality, a drastic transformation in the learning life of students whereby
they are encouraged to become more interactive in the classroom,
their innovative skills are nurtured and new avenues are opened up in
the learning process.
At the same time, the Ministry of Education supports a range of
programmes throughout the Emirates to enhance the professional
development of teachers, including the ‘Teacher Education Programme’,
launched by the Institute of Applied Technology in cooperation with
Cambridge University for teachers of Ra’s al-Khaimah Education Zone.
 S O C I A L D E V E LO PM E N T 229

Studies such as TIMSS assessment (Trends in International

Mathematics and Science Study) taking place in Dubai in 2008 and
PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment), which will
be administered in 2009 across the UAE, are also making significant
progress towards standardisation and data collection on the country’s
student performance.

Developments in Higher Education

The UAE has a diversified system of higher education. UAE citizens
can attend government institutions free of charge, and a wide range of
private institutions supplement the public sector. Ninety-five per cent
of all females and 80 per cent of all males who are enrolled in the final
year of secondary school apply for admission to higher education.
In the 2008/09 academic year, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al
The UAE has in excess
Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research,
of 60 public and private
approved admissions to government universities at home and
universities and the
scholarships abroad for 13,315 Emiratis – 23 per cent more than
the previous year’s figure of 10,785. The fact that every qualified drive to improve
student was offered a place was facilitated by an injection of funds education across the
from the Cabinet. Without the extra funding, Ministry of Higher board is a key
Education and Scientific Research projections suggested fewer than component of UAE
10,000 students would have been admitted to university, leaving Government strategy.
more than 3000 without a place.
The UAE University admitted 3355 students, the Higher Colleges
of Technology 7902 and Zayed University 1558, while the government
is funding 500 overseas scholarships, including 150 postgraduate
students.
In a move that is aimed at permanently ending the funding shortfall,
a new formula linking budgets with student numbers has been
approved and is likely to take effect from the 2009/10 academic year.
In the past budgets had failed to grow in line with inflation and the
increase in student population. For example, at Zayed University
(ZU), the budget remained constant for six years, despite a 52 per
cent increase in the number of students.
At the end of the 2007/08 academic year, ZU had more than 3300
students, in addition to 180 students from the UAE Armed Forces at
the university's special branch in Sweihan, which was opened in
February 2008. So far, five batches, consisting of more than 1700
students, have graduated from the university.

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ZU has also entered into a seven-year cooperation agreement with

the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in relation
to the establishment of Zayed International College (ZIC) in Knowledge
Village, Dubai.
ZU has recently received international accreditation from the US
Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the first university
in the country to do so. It is generally recognised that the academic
accreditation process is extremely important for educational
institutions seeking to match global quality and performance standards.
Indeed, proper accreditation is deemed to be critical if institutions are
to answer to the demands of the local and regional job markets.
For over three decades In the meantime, the UAE University (UAEU), which for over three
UAEU has played a decades has played a leading role in the country's development, is
leading role in the continuing to model its structures on best practices and international
country’s development standards, both academically and administratively, particularly in the
field of research. The university has supplied around 40,000 graduates
and is continuing to
to the country to date. A total of 2848 students, including 2280
model its structures on
females, graduated from the UAEU in 2008. In addition, the university
best practices, welcomed 16,372 students for the 2008/09 academic year, out of
particularly in the which 3355 are freshmen. The majority of students are female.
field of research. UAEU is developing a university town on its Al Maqam campus to
bring together in one place all its facilities in Al Ain, with a view to
creating a more conducive educational atmosphere.
In addition to the universities, a system of Higher Colleges of
Technology (HCTs) throughout the emirates offers a more technically
oriented education. The HCTs’ commercial arm, The Centre of
Excellence for Applied Research and Training (CERT), is now the
largest education provider in the region. CERT prides itself on
responding quickly and effectively to current needs in the regional and
international work place, providing professional development and
lifelong learning opportunities for the UAE, the Gulf, and – through
online training courses – to many other parts of the business world.

Private Institutions
A wide range of private universities and institutions, many accredited
to or linked with international bodies, offer educational opportunities to
Emiratis and other nationalities. The Ministry of Higher Education
and Scientific Research is responsible for the accreditation of institutes
and degrees and its website provides a comprehensive list of
recognised institutes and programmes.
 S O C I A L D E V E LO PM E N T 231

With two campuses in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, over 1000 new
students were accepted in the 2008/09 academic year for study at
the recently established Abu Dhabi University. Over half the
student body at ADU consists of 45 different nationalities.
Paris Sorbonne University, Abu Dhabi, wholly owned by ADEC, is
providing educational opportunities in Abu Dhabi, in partnership
with one of the world’s leading academic institutions. The university
awards qualifications under French regulations and in accordance
with academic standards set by the Sorbonne in Paris.
Successful international partnerships have also have also been
developed with Insead, one of the world’s largest graduate business
schools. Neither are the arts neglected, as is evidenced by the
opening of a branch of the New York Film School in Abu Dhabi in
February 2008.
Other notable institutions include the American Universities of
Sharjah and Dubai, Sharjah University and Ajman University of
Science and Technology.
Dubai Knowledge Village, a member of Tecom Investments, is Dubai International
running Dubai International Academic City (DIAC), the world’s only Academic City is the
free zone dedicated to international higher education. DIAC will serve world’s only free zone
as the regional base for a number of international higher education dedicated to
institutions, targeting students who are unable to go abroad to study.
international higher
The UAE also has several vocational and technical educational
education.
centres for those seeking practical career training. These include the
Emirates Institute for Banking and Finance, the Dubai School of
Government, Etisalat’s colleges and university, Etihad’s training centre,
The Emirates Aviation College for Aerospace and Academic Studies
and the Petroleum Institute (PI).
In addition, Jumeirah Group run a hospitality training school
and Emaar Education has also opened a new school of hospitality
management in Dubai.
Funded by the Abu Dhabi government, and operated by Tourism
Development & Investment Company (TDIC), a new vocational
education centre has attracted registration from hundreds of residents
of Dalma Island, the second largest component in Abu Dhabi’s
unique Desert Islands nature-based tourism destination. The Centre is
designed to prepare the population for careers resulting from the
emergence of the tourism industry in the emirate’s Western (Al
Gharbia) Region. The Desert Islands Education Centre (DIEC) will be

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the first professional education facility to open on the heritage

rich Dalma Island. Further details are available on the Dalma Island
Education Centre website at www.diec.org or Desert Islands at
www.desertislands.com or TDIC at www.tdic.ae

Research and Development

The Government’s It is generally recognised that research and development (R&D) is an
strategy is to create an essential element in economic progress. The government’s strategy
indigenous scientific is to create an indigenous scientific and research culture to enhance
culture in order to the level of higher education and R&D within the country. One way
to achieve this is to forge partnerships in research among universities
enhance research
and public and private sector bodies, as well as pursue cooperation
and development
with the world's prestigious universities and institutes.
in the UAE. Heading the partnership agenda is the launch of a web portal to be
managed in conjunction with Microsoft. The partnership campaign
will also see the introduction of an entrepreneurship initiative in
conjunction with the Young Achievers Injaz programme, which is
expected to cater to 50,000 students by 2013. Other planned re-
engineering moves include the launch of a gifted student scheme.
In addition, Emirates Foundation is breaking new ground in the
UAE by offering independent research grants in the fields of science
and engineering, information technology and environmental sciences.
The foundation's private sector partner in this initiative is Shell Abu
Dhabi, which is acting in an advisory capacity. Research projects that
meet selection criteria are eligible for grants of up to Dh200,000.
Project applications that included the participation and empowerment
 S O C I A L D E V E LO PM E N T 233

of UAE national students are strongly encouraged. More information

can be found on the Emirates Foundation website at www.emirates
foundation.ae under Grants and Scholarships.
In May 2008, Emirates Foundation also announced its first grant
to a non-profit organisation in the area of Science and Technology.
The grant, which is aimed at making high-impact science and
technology programmes more accessible to young people nationwide,
has been awarded to The Arab Youth Venture Foundation (AYVF). This
group delivers programmes to nurture innovation and entrepreneurial
thinking among talented UAE youth, placing a priority on the fun and
excitement of science.
AYVF has created four distinct STEAM (Science/Technology/
Engineering/Aerospace/Maths) programmes as part of a focused effort
to prepare students for future careers and the next wave of national
economic development. It also has plans to engage families and the
broader community to move the UAE toward its articulated goal of a
knowledge-based economy.
The Petroleum Institute (PI), which is located in Abu Dhabi, was
created in 2001 with the goal of establishing itself as a world-class
institution specialising in engineering education and research in
areas of significance to the oil and gas and the broader energy
industries. The PI's sponsors and affiliates include Abu Dhabi National
Oil Company (Adnoc) and four major international oil companies.
Today more than 1000 young men and women are enrolled in the
programmes at the PI and the institute is in the design and planning
stage of a major research and technology development centre.
In September 2009, the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology In September 2009,
(MIST) will open its new facilities at Masdar City with the intake of the Masdar Institute
the first class of 100 students. Developed in cooperation with the of Science and
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), MIST will emulate MIT's Technology (MIST) will
high standards and offer Master's and Doctorate-level degree
open its new facilities
programmes focused on the science and engineering of advanced
at Masdar City with the
energy and sustainability technologies.
MIST and the PI signed a collaborative agreement in 2008 that intake of the first class
will see the two Abu Dhabi academic institutions work together to of 100 students.
create a dynamic force in the field of energy. As part of the agreement,
PI has joined the Masdar Research Network (MRN).
Emirates Institute for Advanced Science and Technology is also
proving to be a fertile ground for R&D. The UAE's first earth
observation satellite was developed by SatrecI in South Korea with

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234 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

in-depth participation by UAE engineers from the EIAST and is due for
launching in 2009. Dubai Sat-1 will provide the UAE with its first
dedicated ‘Eye in the Sky’.
Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research (KUSTR)
aims to provide a centre of excellence for learning and research,
primarily in telecommunications and related disciplines. KUSTR has
recently launched the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Postgraduate
Scholarships, which sponsors UAE nationals to obtain Masters Degrees
and PhDs in telecommunications, computer science, and electronics.
The programme covers all expenses and also allocates an attractive
monthly salary for students and guarantees employment on graduation.
KUSTR has also entered into a cooperation agreement with
National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD) whereby NBAD’s corporate social
responsibility programme will donate Dh25 million to the University's
Research and Development Centre. The initiative further cements
KUSTR’s research and academic efforts and enables it to implement
its educational strategy.
In addition, Etisalat, British Telecom (BT) and KUSTR have
announced a plan to set up a joint UAE-based centre for research
and development focusing on innovation in information technology
and telecommunications in the UAE and the region.

Educational Awards
The second cycle of the The Dh3.3 million Khalifa Educational Award was established in
Khalifa Award for 2007/08 to help foster an environment that spurs creativity and
Education was empowers local human resources. The award covers a variety of
launched in Cairo in fields: general education, higher education, people with special
needs, inventive educational programmes in the UAE, procedural
October 2008 in
researches in the UAE, and inventive educational projects and
recognition of Egypt’s
programmes at the Arab countries' level.
substantial support for
The second cycle of the Khalifa Award for Education was launched
development in in Cairo in October 2008 in recognition of Egypt’s substantial support
education in many for development in education in many Arab countries including the
Arab countries, UAE. Winners will be announced in April 2009.
including the UAE.
Literacy
The UAE has pledged to eradicate alphabetical illiteracy in seven
years, thus becoming the first Arab country to attain full literacy. A
recent survey showed that the illiteracy rate is on the decline in the
 S O C I A L D E V E LO PM E N T 235

UAE, and is now in the region of 7 per cent. This is mainly due to There is no doubt
programmes that combat illiteracy amongst the adult population. that great strides have
Currently there are thousands of nationals pursuing formal learning been made since the
at 86 adult education centres spread across the country. Many are foundation of the
above 50 years of age. A large number of graduates from these evening federation in
schools have enrolled for higher education at various universities.
eliminating all forms
of discrimination
against women.
WOMEN
The empowering of women is a key component of UAE Government
strategy. This pursuit of gender equality is not just a social policy
initiative, it is generally recognised that full female participation is
also pivotal for sustainable economic development. Women as a
comparatively untapped human capital resource have a vital
contribution to make to the continued prosperity of the country.
The commitment to gender equality is enshrined in the UAE
Constitution and in enabling legislation that strives to maintain the
balance between modernisation, cultural heritage and Islamic beliefs.
There is no doubt that great strides have been made since the
foundation of the federation in eliminating all forms of discrimination
against women. On the educational level, nearly half the students
registered in over 1250 schools across the UAE are girls; about 75
per cent of all students in the UAE University are women; and three
out of every five students in the public higher education system are
women. When one considers that just over 30 years ago, only 29
women in the UAE held university degrees, it is possible to appreciate
how much progress has been made in a very short space of time.
Having excelled in educational attainments, women in the UAE
account for 27.95 per cent of the national labour force, marking an
annual growth rate of 3.5 per cent between 1985 and 2005. Indeed
women occupy 66 per cent of public-sector jobs, 30 per cent of
which are leadership and decision-making posts. Participation in the
government sector is not just in traditional areas such as health care
and education: UAE women have also joined the police, military and
airforce (the first four female women pilots to serve in the UAE airforce
graduated from Khalifa Aviation College in January 2008).
Women are also represented in the legislative, executive and
judiciary: the new Cabinet, appointed in late 2007, includes four

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Women’s organisations
in the UAE have
played a vital role in
representing and
organising the
women’s movement
and promoting women
in the workplace,
family and community.
women ministers, and women occupy 22 per cent of the seats in
the Federal National Council. Women constitute 20 per cent of the
diplomatic corps and two women were appointed as ambassadors
in 2008. In addition, the law governing judicial appointments was
amended in 2008 to permit women judges to be appointed in the
UAE and the first female judge was appointed in Abu Dhabi in 2008.
Government Initiatives
Women’s organisations such as the General Women’s Union (GWU),
which was established in 1975 under the leadership of HH Sheikha
Fatima bint Mubarak with the full support of the Government, have
played a vital role in representing and organising the women’s
movement and promoting women in the workplace, family and
community. As is outlined below, the GWU’s work is ongoing.
The Government also continues to make the necessary efforts to
mainstream and promote gender equality and justice in all government
institutions and it has been responsible for a number of initiatives
directly concerned with women's and children's affairs, including
the Family Development Foundation, which was set up in 2006 under
the presidency of HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak to develop and
monitor implementation of women's advancement strategies. The
foundation recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with
the United Nations Development Fund for Women to strengthen the
foundation's capacities and update the National Strategy for Women.
As stressed by the UAE Permanent Ambassador to the UN during
the fifty-second session of the Commission on the Status of Women
and to the special session of the General Assembly entitled ‘Women
2000: Gender Equality, Development and Peace for the 21st' Century’.
The UAE is committed to implementing the recommendations and the
outcomes of all the international conferences and summits on women,
including the Beijing plan of action and the outcome of the 23rd special
session of the General Assembly, motivated by a conviction that
implementing these recommendations is an imperative requirement to
reach the internationally agreed development goals. Therefore, the UAE
was very keen on joining the regional and international conventions on
women and the family, such as the Convention on the Elimination of all
forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). In addition the UAE
is party to nine international treaties on working conditions for women,
working hours and equal pay.
 The UAE urges for the continuation of the international efforts to
enhance international political and financial support for millions of
women in the developing countries who are suffering from poverty,
serious diseases and armed conflicts, so that they can improve their
living conditions to comply with the principles of the UN Charter,
human rights, the recommendations of the Millennium declaration and
the Beijing plan of action.

GWU
The GWU has been working hard for the past 33 years to further the The General Women’s
emancipation of Emirati women in accordance with Islamic values Union has been
and Arab traditions. Funded by the government, the GWU has its working hard for the
own charter and is empowered to represent the women of the UAE past 33 years to further
in discussions with ministries and other government departments the emancipation of
and institutions. It also has the responsibility of suggesting new laws
Emirati women in
or amending existing legislation. The GWU conducts its own
accordance with
research into matters of interest to women and is central to
Islamic values and
government policy in this area. In fact, the GWU was instrumental
in the launch of the UAE National Strategy on the Advancement of Arab traditions.
Women, the objective of which is to enhance the role of women in
economic, social, media, education, labour, culture as well as
political fields. The GWU also represents the government at home
and abroad on issues relating to the development of women.

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In March 2006, the GWU, in partnership with UNDP UAE

(www.undporg.ae), embarked on an intensive outreach programme
to engage the public and private sectors in effective gender
mainstreaming. This project's main goal is to build the capacity of
the GWU, to enable the organisation to more effectively contribute
to gender empowerment and sustainable development efforts in the
UAE. Enhancing the GWU's capabilities, especially in the area of gender
mainstreaming, will enable the organisation to successfully implement
the National Strategy for the Advancement of Women in the UAE, as
well as effectively monitor and follow-up on commitments made by the
UAE Government with regards to CEDAW as well as other relevant
conventions and international agreements.
Training has been provided to 26 government and non-governmental
entities for the purpose of facilitating the incorporation of a gender-
sensitive dimension into their policies and plans. Gender-sensitising
dialogue sessions are also being provided to private sector
management, particularly in the oil and gas, banking and financial
industries. The GWU is also part of a newly established international
network for cooperation in gender development efforts.

DWE
Contributing to Contributing to policy-making and legislation that will enhance the
policy-making and role of Emirati women in society and encourage them to become a
legislation that will driving force in development is at the core of the Dubai Women
enhance the role of Establishment's strategy for 2008 to 2012. The goal of the strategy,
which contains a five-pronged approach, is to find a balance between
Emirati women in
work and home life, provide continuous opportunities for women in
society and encourage
training and work, nurture leadership, and enhance the image of UAE
them to become a national women.
driving force in The strategy focuses on the adoption of national development
development policies to increase the contribution of Emirati women to the economy,
is at the core of the launching of national programmes that help these women reach
the Dubai Women leadership positions, as well as introducing economic policies to
Establishment’s enable women to work from home.
strategy. The objective is to introduce new policies and support services
that remove barriers towards women's progression and growth in
the workplace, especially in the private sector, and an increase in
the number of women returning to work after starting a family.
DWE is committed to helping women tap opportunities in all
domains while seeking new horizons. Increased acknowledgment of
 S O C I A L D E V E LO PM E N T 239

the contributions and accomplishments of women, improved visibility

of role models and mentors and increased inspiration and
motivation to encourage women to reach their full potential will help
in achieving this.
One of the difficulties faced in implementing strategy is the lack
of hard statistical evidence on which to base initiatives. Efforts are
being made across the board to remedy this and DWE has signed a
strategic co-operation agreement with the Dubai Statistics Centre
(DSC) to share crucial data that will further the goals of both
organisations to provide better understanding on the status of UAE
women. Statistics will help identify real challenges the UAE
working women face in their day-to-day life and will facilitate the
implementation of appropriate solutions.
As part of its efforts to ensure Emirati women play a key role not
only in the local arena but throughout the Gulf region, the DWE
has initiated several women-centric programmes with the active
participation of private and public sector organisations. In particular,
it recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the
Mohammed bin Rashid Programme for Leadership Development to
formulate programmes for training and developing Emirati leaders.

Private Sector
Although the UAE has made great strides in its efforts to empower
women, the Government considers this as a ‘work in progress’ and
hopes to enable women to achieve even greater heights in the years
ahead. In particular, women require support and encouragement to
take up positions in the private sector.
The fact that there are so few women working in the private sector
has costs for both society and the economy. A report, ‘Growing
Beyond Oil’ by Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC) in Kuwait, argues
that national women remain a major untapped resource in the GCC
that could be better exploited. In the GIC report, gender equality in the
labour force was cited as a key recommendation for GCC countries as
they crept towards the post-oil era. The report concluded that policies
like the ones adopted in the UAE – bolstering educational institutions
and funding emiratisation programmes – are the way forward.
The perception is that women tend to gravitate towards professions
in the services sector, banking and information technology, where
there is a combination of interpersonal interaction and flexibility

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Many Emirati women that allows them to stay home and raise families, if they choose to
pioneers have do so. This is supported by the fact that there is an increasing number
succeeded in breaking of female investment bankers, financial fund managers, and portfolio
down barriers, both in managers. Programmes that take these factors into account will help
terms of entering correct the UAE’s labour imbalance.
But while the public sector has focused on providing facilities and
careers that were
benefits for working women, convincing the private sector in the
previously considered
UAE to adapt work practices to accommodate women is a little
to be the domain of more difficult. Similar problems occur in other jurisdictions, but it is
men and reaching the increasingly evident that correcting them here is crucial for the region
very top of their in the long run.
chosen professions. However, getting more women to work in the private sector is
only one side of the equality equation. The other – enabling women
to break through the ‘glass ceiling’ and achieve executive positions –
is just as problematic. A report in May from ‘The National Investor’,
an investment bank in Abu Dhabi, in conjunction with the corporate
governance institute, Hawkamah, found that women occupied just
1.5 per cent of corporate board seats in the GCC. In the UAE, the
figure was about 0.8 per cent.
Nevertheless, in the UAE, many of the key pieces already seem to be
in place and it may be only a matter of time before women begin to
assume positions of power in greater numbers.

Breaking Barriers
Despite the difficulties, there are many Emirati women pioneers
who have succeeded in breaking down barriers, both in terms of
entering careers that were previously considered to be the domain of
men and reaching the very top of their chosen professions.
Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, the UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, is
one of five women in the Middle East considered by the US-based
business magazine ‘Forbes’ in 2007 to be among the world's 100
most powerful women. Prior to her appointment to the Cabinet,
Sheikha Lubna had made a name for herself in the private sector as
CEO of Tejari, a leading B2B marketplace in the emerging markets.
Chief executive of Dubai's Economic Zones World and Jebel Ali
Free Zone Authority Salma Hareb topped the 2008 ‘Forbes Arabia’
list of the 50 most powerful Arab businesswomen. Hareb became
the first woman in the Middle East and North Africa to head a free
zone in September 2005 when she became the boss of Jafza. All in
all, the UAE has eight businesswomen on the list.
 S O C I A L D E V E LO PM E N T 241

Etihad Airways first ever Emirati female cadet pilots are high
flyers in another category. Heralded in a recently published book
‘The 100 Greatest Women in Aviation’, which was launched at the
2008 Farnborough International Airshow, UK, these are ‘the female
aviators of the future' who are ‘making their own name in flying'.

Women in Investment
It is estimated that investments run by women amount to Dh12.5
billion (about US$4 billion) and women finance 32 per cent of the
transactions of the financial and banking sector.
There are a number of support systems in place to encourage
women to take a more active role in investment in the UAE.
For example, to promote private investment by women, the UAE
Businesswomen Council (UAEBC), a nationwide network of business,
professional and academic women, was set up in 2002 with
the assistance of the UAE Federation of Chambers of Commerce
and Industry.
Forsa, part of Dubai World, is a new investment company for
women that focuses on investment opportunities in real estate,
retail and services segments in the MENA region. Its vision is to
empower women and enable them to lead in a competitive economy.
Forsa and the Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for Young
Business Leaders, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) designed to promote value-added investment opportunities
for women entrepreneurs in the country. Under the terms of the MoU,
the Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment will promote Forsa as
the preferred strategic partner among its members and facilitate
alliance opportunities for investment between Forsa and the young
entrepreneurs. Forsa will offer smart capital to fund start-up
companies and play a key role in adding further value and realising
the true growth potential of portfolio companies.

Conferences
The dialogue is ongoing: in 2008, the UAE hosted, for the first time,
an Arab-West group of young people focusing on women’s issues.
This was held under the patronage of HH Sheikha Fatima bint
Mubarak as part of the ‘Arab Youth Dialogue’ strategy initiated in
2005 with the aim of developing a constructive discourse on
resolving women’s issues and protecting their rights.

@ www.uaeinteract.com/socialdevelopment
 Arab First Ladies attending The Third Women as Global Leaders Conference 2008 was held in
the Arab Women’s March, also under the patronage of Sheikha Fatima. Organised by
Organisation conference in
Zayed University, the international student conference brought
Abu Dhabi in November 2008.
together eminent women personalities whose leadership role was
crucial in shaping the modern world with participants from over 85
countries and from all sectors including education, government, and
nongovernmental organisations. The conference focused on women's
emergent and current leadership roles across the globe as well as
the practice of educating students for and about leadership.
At the second AWO The Second Arab Women’s Organisation conference took place in
conference Sheikha Abu Dhabi in November. Launched in March 2003, the AWO seeks
Fatima announced a to achieve women’s empowerment in the Arab World and enhance
media strategy for Arab their role within the family and society.
Sheikha Fatima became chairwoman of the AWO in 2007 and
women to enable and
donated US$1million to the organisation. In addition, Sheikha Fatima
promote their role in
has donated money for the launching of a communication network
society and also among Arab women.
launched a network
to support the Social Assistance
diaspora of Arab Although educational opportunities have transformed the status of
women worldwide . women in the UAE, in any society there will be those who for one
reason or another remain disadvantaged. As already outlined, the
Ministry of Social Affairs is responsible for paying welfare assistance to
those in need, including widows and divorced women. It also makes
specific allocations to the women's organisations in the country.
To assist women who cannot work away from their families, the
Government established the Programme for Productive Families,
 S O C I A L D E V E LO PM E N T 243

which seeks to improve the finances of limited income families and The Dubai Shelter for
transform them from dependent families to contributing ones. Women and Children
As a vital part of those efforts, the Ministry of Social Affairs is was established to
responsible for the management of the network of social development provide support and
centre, run by the GWU which were set up with the idea of contributing
psychological care to all
to the social and economic development of Emirati women, especially
women, both nationals
in rural areas. Ten social development centres offer advice in a variety
of social and domestic situations and are responsible for the first stage and expatriates, who
assessment of eligibility to receive welfare assistance (see section on are victims of human
Social Welfare). trafficking, domestic
Of direct assistance to women at home are the courses offered violence, family
in domestic skills with nurseries provided to the children of women neglect, employer
who wish to attend. The centres are also involved in the work of adult abuse and other social
literacy centres, which are run in collaboration with the Ministry problems. A similar
of Education.
shelter has been
In addition, the centres help women to take a more active role in
established in Abu
society. Recreational and social activities are organised while the
centres are also very active in preserving traditional heritage and Dhabi by the UAE Red
handicrafts practiced by UAE women. Crescent Authority.
Heritage work groups have been established in which women
continue the making of traditional handicrafts that are then sold to
the public, thus providing additional income for the makers. The
centres also offer simple vocational training and regular lectures on
topics pertaining to culture, religion and health.
Elsewhere, the Handicrafts Centre, part of the GWU, is attempting
to preserve traditional Emirati handicrafts and promote them in a
way that will guarantee their survival in the long run and will meet
the rising demand by visitors and residents of Abu Dhabi for quality
products. This also serves the purpose of acquainting tourists with
the value and history of traditional products in the UAE.

HEALTH
The UAE has a comprehensive health service that delivers a high
standard of health care to the population. Pre-natal and post-natal
care is on a par with the world’s most developed countries and
healthcare provision is universal. As a consequence, life expectancy
at birth in the UAE, at 78.5 years, has reached levels similar to those
in Europe and North America.

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Rapid advancement in According to World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics, the UAE
healthcare facilities in is ranked forty-fourth in the world in terms of health care. The aim
the UAE drastically now is to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century and
reduced infant develop a system for the country and the region that is at par with
the world's best.
mortality to about
In particular, the needs of a rapidly expanding population coupled
eight per thousand
with the increased costs of equipping and operating healthcare
births in 2008 and facilities are all driving a demand for more healthcare expenditure.
raised the average life In the light of these trends and the government’s overall reassessment
expectancy age to 77 of its role as a provider of services, new models of private and
years for men and 80 public sector collaboration are emerging in healthcare provision,
years for women. with government focusing on policy formation and regulation.

Health Strategy
In pursuit of government strategy to coordinate and implement a
coherent healthcare policy throughout the Emirates, a national
Health Council was established in July 2008. Chaired by Health
Minister Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qatami, the council
comprises representatives from the Ministry of Health (MoH), the
Health Authority–Abu Dhabi (HAAD), Dubai Health Authority (DHA),
Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), the medical services sectors of the
Interior Ministry, the Armed Forces and the private health sector.
The new council is entrusted with the task of coordinating efforts by
federal and local healthcare authorities, as well as the public and
private healthcare delivery sector, to ensure an integrated service
and improve the standards of health care in the country.
The council will also coordinate with the Ministry of Higher
Education and Scientific Research on the drawing up of educational
policies for the study of medicine and health sciences in the UAE
and abroad. The two bodies will share information, work together to
enhance scientific research, and assist health programmes, activities
and services in a way that will help to achieve the country's general
health policy.
The council is also mandated to assist cooperation between the
UAE, regional and international health bodies and it will give advice
and express its views on matters related to health insurance
nationwide. In summary, the overall objective of the Health Council
is to orchestrate the ongoing development of an accessible,
comprehensive, sustainable, and fully integrated cycle of care for the
population of the UAE.
New models of private and
public sector collaboration are
emerging in healthcare provision
in the UAE.
246 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

The MoH has unveiled Planning Ahead

a five-year health In February 2008, the MoH unveiled a five-year health strategy for
strategy for the public the public health sector in the northern emirates, which fall under
health sector in the its purview and which, unlike Abu Dhabi and Dubai, do not have
northern emirates, separate healthcare authorities. The strategy focuses on unifying
which, unlike Abu healthcare policy and improving access to healthcare services at
Dhabi and Dubai, do reasonable cost, at the same time reducing dependence on overseas
not have separate treatment. The ministry plans to add three hospitals to the current
14, and 29 primary healthcare centres to the current 86. Nine were
healthcare authorities.
scheduled to open in 2008.
HAAD announced its five-year strategic plan in May 2008,
addressing 12 priorities based on the government's vision for the
health system of Abu Dhabi emirate and the comprehensively
analysed needs of the population.
The demand for high-quality health services in the emirate is
increasing very rapidly. As we have already seen, the population is
rising steeply, the birth rate is amongst the highest in the world and
more people are reaching old-age than ever before. Simultaneously,
people with lifestyle associated risk factors, serious diseases, and
accident related afflictions, are increasing.
Abu Dhabi, through the medium of Abu Dhabi Health Services
Company (SEHA), is already responding to the changing demands in
the healthcare sector. SEHA is an independent, public company
launched in December 2007 to manage and develop activities in
public hospitals and clinics in Abu Dhabi. SEHA currently manages
eight hospital systems totalling 14 facilities, 2472 licensed beds,
more than 55 Primary Health Clinics and 14,350 employees and is
attracting international hospitals to manage healthcare facilities, as
well as investing heavily in medical infrastructure and technology, at
all times applying internationally acclaimed standards.

HEALTH INSURANCE
The introduction of mandatory health insurance in Abu Dhabi for
expatriates and their dependents over two years ago was a major
driver in reform of healthcare policy. Abu Dhabi nationals were
brought under the scheme from 1 June 2008 and Dubai followed
suit for its government employees. Eventually, under federal law, every
Emirati and expatriate in the country will be covered by compulsory
health insurance under a unified mandatory scheme. This will mean
 S O C I A L D E V E LO PM E N T 247

everybody living in the northern emirates will be covered by the The introduction of
same rules as elsewhere in the country and benefit from the same mandatory health
access to health care. The challenge is to make sure the hospitals and insurance in Abu Dhabi
healthcare providers, insurers, the Government and employers work was a major driver
together to ensure that the transition is successful. Progress has
in reform of
already been made on the establishment of a federal health
healthcare policy.
insurance authority to regulate the industry across the UAE.
Since its formation in 2006, the National Insurance Company,
Daman, held exclusive rights to provide health insurance for expatriates
and their dependents working in many government and semi-
government institutions in the UAE. However, following an amendment
introduced in 2008 by the Abu Dhabi Executive Council to the
executive regulations of Law No 23 of 2005, Daman’s exclusive
status has been rescinded and other registered insurance companies
are eligible to provide health insurance to all government
employees, in direct competition with Daman. The decree has levelled
the playing field between insurance companies and it is hoped that the
increased competition will lead to a reduction in costs.
The resolution also brought new groups of beneficiaries under
the ambit of the basic health insurance plan (BHIP) while the total
salary bracket was also changed on the recommendation of HAAD.
Employers and sponsors are obliged to ensure that their employees
and dependents who are working or residing in the Emirate of Abu
Dhabi are covered by valid health insurance at all times. Health
insurance policies must be renewed every year and trade licences,
work visas and resident visas will not be issued or renewed without
the employer submitting evidence of health insurance subscription
for his employees for the previous period.
From the beginning of May 2008, Dubai Health Authority (DHA)
introduced a comprehensive health insurance scheme for government
employees and their dependents, including all UAE nationals as well
as expatriate residents. The scheme will be extended to all residents of
Dubai from 1 January 2009.
Employers will contribute the majority of the funding provided
through a flat rate to the Health Benefits Contribution (HBC) pool, paid
on behalf of their employees. Only authorised insurance companies
will distribute health insurance schemes incorporating the new
funding system.
Commencing January 2009, everyone residing in the emirate or
holding a Dubai residence visa will be required to register with a public

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248 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
Kidney transplant patient at
Zayed Hospital.
Keyhole heart surgery at
Zayed Hospital
or private outpatient clinic of their choice (subject to availability). They
will then be issued with a health card that will give them access to
essential health care within Dubai only. Those requiring healthcare
facilities in any other emirate, once the system is in place, will have
to bear the cost until the federal insurance system is in operation.
UAE nationals will continue to receive existing levels of cover and
service, which means the government will bear all their healthcare
expenses. The entire registration process for Dubai has to be
completed within a year. However, current insurance schemes being
held by companies will remain in place until all Dubai employees/
residents are registered. The DHA transition programme will be
introduced over a four-year period, completing in 2012, with the DHA
health funding process being fully implemented by 2015.
Insurance for Travellers
Proof of health insurance is mandatory to acquire a UAE visitor’s
visa from 1 August 2008 under the newly implemented visa
regulations. In response, Daman has launched a series of plans to
facilitate visit visa application procedures. Daman’s visitor insurance
plans are accepted by the Federal Department of Naturalisation and
Residence and satisfy entry requirements at all airports in UAE.
However, holders of international health insurance policies are
not required to obtain local insurance policies when applying for
entry permits.
The Department of Naturalisation and Residency in Dubai (DNRD)
also revealed details of health insurance plans for visitors, following the
conclusion of an agreement with two insurance companies; Oman
and Aman.
HEALTH SURVEYS
Preventive strategies are a formidable weapon in any public health
policy and the UAE is no exception. But it is important to base policy on
clear statistical data. With this in mind the Ministry of Health (MoH)
conducted the first comprehensive international health survey in
December 2008. The survey covered 5000 families (both expatriates
and citizens) and 1000 individuals (workers) from all over the country,
gathering information regarding their health status and financial
capacities. MoH is also carrying out a comprehensive countrywide
field study on the spread of lifestyle diseases.
 S O C I A L D E V E LO PM E N T 249

CANCER
The UAE is in the process of opening a unified cancer centre that
will collect and collate information in an attempt to find ways to
combat the disease, focusing on prevention as well as treatment.
Information to date indicates that cancer rates are on the rise in
the UAE and in many cases late diagnosis and treatment lead to
medical complications and death, the most common cancers being
breast cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal and skin cancers.
Breast cancer is one of the biggest killers of women in the UAE The UAE is in the
and is often diagnosed during later stages of the disease. The health process of opening a
issues surrounding breast cancer in the UAE were highlighted in unified cancer centre
2007 with the launch of the US–UAE Partnership for Breast Cancer that will collect and
Awareness and Research, under the patronage of Sheikha Fatima. collate information in
Between 2003 and 2006, almost as many women were diagnosed
an attempt to find
with breast cancer as with all the other types of cancer combined,
ways to combat the
according to the National Cancer Registry. The disease also accounts
disease.
for 22.8 per cent of the total number of diagnosed cases of cancer in
the UAE, making it the country’s most common cancer. The young
age at which women are developing breast cancer is of particular
concern to doctors: many women are being diagnosed with breast
cancer in their teens and twenties and the average age at which
breast cancer is being diagnosed among Emiratis is between 40 and
45, which is ten years younger than in Europe. It is estimated also
that only 30 per cent of women with breast cancer in the country
are diagnosed in the early stages of the disease, when the chances
of a cure are greatly increased.
In an effort to address these issues, the national screening centre
for women was officially opened in Abu Dhabi in 2008. Its major tasks
include educating people about the importance of self-examination at
an early age, and overcoming taboos associated with the disease.
Another highly positive move was the launch in January 2008 of
the first mobile mammography screening unit in the UAE at Tawam
Hospital in Al Ain, in affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine, which
manages Tawam. The mobile unit provides screening mammograms
and breast health education to rural women in their own communities.
Tawam also has a complete support team at its dedicated state-of-
the-art Breast Care Centre in Al Ain, which is a regional first.
The service is already proving to be a success, with treatment
being given to many women who might not have received it, and

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Between 2003 and women being diagnosed with breast cancers that might have been
2006, almost as many overlooked, or diagnosed at a later, more deadly, stage of development.
women were Initially the pilot project will operate in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi,
diagnosed with breast with plans to expand the programme to include six or more units.
cancer as with all The MoH has also unveiled what it hopes will become a national
the other types of cervical cancer screening campaign. Cervical cancer is the second
cancer combined. most fatal type of cancer for women worldwide and the picture in the
UAE is no different. The MoH and the Emirates Medical Association
are collaborating to create an organisation that raises awareness of the
disease, and the main function of the Emirates Cervicare Network is
to encourage women and, in particular, Emirati women, to have an
annual cervical smear test. The process is often less about overcoming
cultural barriers than it is about education.
Efforts are also being made to improve treatment facilities and
Mubadala Healthcare announced that it has broken ground on a state-
of-the-art medical molecular imaging centre at the Tawam campus in
Al Ain. that will vastly improve diagnostic imaging in the region and
contribute to more efficient treatment for patients.
Scheduled for completion in 2009, the new centre will offer
revolutionary diagnostic imaging systems that significantly improve
the early detection and tracking of cancer, cardiovascular and
neurological diseases with accuracy far exceeding conventional
medical imaging.
Patients throughout the region who currently have to travel abroad
for this kind of procedure will soon be able to benefit from the very
latest international technological advances without leaving the UAE.

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
In the UAE screening for cardiovascular diseases was carried out as
part of World Heart Federation's World Heart Day 2008 campaign,
part of a worldwide screening initiative. According to a study published
in the ‘New England Journal of Medicine’, cardiovascular diseases
(CVD) account for 31.4 per cent of deaths in Dubai and 28 per cent
of deaths in the UAE.
While genetic factors and the incidence of diabetes have a role to
play in heart disease, the problem is mostly caused by rapidly
changing lifestyles, poor eating habits, lack of exercise and living and
working in a stressful environment.
 S O C I A L D E V E LO PM E N T 251

As with cancer prevention and treatment, government strategy is

focusing on health education programmes alongside the development
of centres of excellence for treatment.
The Abu Dhabi-based Sheikh Khalifa Medical Centre (SKMC),
which is managed by Cleveland Clinic, is a case in point. The
hospital's Department of Cardiac Sciences is an ultra-modern and
all-inclusive centre of excellence that provides cardiac services
and specialties, including non-invasive cardiology, interventional
cardiology, electrophysiology, and cardiac surgery. SKMC is installing a
new ambient experience cardiac catheter laboratory, which will add
to its already high profile in adult interventional cardiology by
improving efficiency and patient comfort, and it officially opened a
heart resuscitation section in August 2008.

DIABETES
Diabetes is a condition currently affecting an estimated one in five
people in the UAE. Again health awareness campaigns are a major
tool in prevention. ‘Diabetes Knowledge Action' is the award-winning
public health awareness campaign orchestrated by Imperial College
London Diabetes Centre (ICLDC), under the patronage of Sheikha
Fatima and in partnership with Emirates Foundation.
The awareness campaign has organised a number of activities to
highlight the positive effects of exercise in helping to combat the
debilitating disease, including a Ramadan seven-a-side football
tournament held in Abu Dhabi, dubbed ‘I Play Sports’. Ten corporate
community teams representing each of the sponsor companies plus
ICLDC and Takatof Volunteers participated in the corporate community
event. The message is that regular exercise can help protect against
diabetes and it is important to lead at least a moderately active
lifestyle. For those who are unable to play team sports, just 30-minutes
of exercise, five days a week, will significantly help in the fight
against diabetes.

SMOKING
The UAE enthusiastically embraced the global war against smoking
on ‘World No Tobacco Day’ in June by announcing that it would
target youth, implement smoking restrictions and set up clinics to
assist smokers to kick the habit. There is a recognition that smoking is
embedded in local culture and that there is a need to change the

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Research on diabetes
in the UAE suggests
that the disease will
cost an estimated
Dh10 billion by 2020 if
the condition is
not treated.
mentality of a significant part of the population who regularly
smoke: about 27 per cent of men and 2.4 per cent of women in the
UAE use tobacco products like shisha (water pipe) and midwakh
(Arab pipe), while 25.2 and 3 per cent respectively smoke cigarettes,
according to a WHO study. In addition, the study highlights the fact
that 24 per cent of males as young as 13 to 15 years, and as many as
42 per cent of males aged 17 in the UAE are smokers.
The MoH has already set up several quit-smoking clinics in the
Emirates and has plans to establish two clinics every year. But the
MoH are concerned that people are not focusing sufficiently on the
health risks associated with smoking, particularly young people.
The UAE has also been working on a federal law regulating
tobacco and its uses, content and sale, in accordance with the World
Health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention of Tobacco
Control (FCTC). The law, which will prohibit tobacco use in enclosed
areas and public places, has been delayed since 2006 but could be
implemented by the end of 2008.
Dubai has implemented several tobacco-control initiatives,
outlawing smoking in enclosed public spaces and banning sale of
tobacco products to those under the age of 20. Sharjah has also
banned smoking at designated public places from 1 June 2008.
Smoking in governmental institutions and department offices has
been banned in Sharjah since 2000 and a ban on shisha smoking in
coffee shops has also been implemented in the emirate.
The MoH will include questions on tobacco use in its comprehensive
country-wide survey in association with WHO and is also considering a
shisha-specific study. Recent research on shisha smoking has found
more and more evidence that the Middle Eastern pastime is as
dangerous, if not more dangerous than cigarette-smoking.
NEW WEBSITES
Mubadala Healthcare has launched the initial phase of Minhaal
(Arabic for 'the source'), the first web portal in the Arab world to
offer healthcare information in both English and Arabic languages.
The web portal (www.minhaal.ae) primarily serves the UAE, but will
also be an important source of knowledge for all Arabic speaking
people. Minhaal has been created by Mubadala Healthcare as a way
to help educate and raise awareness about health issues amongst
Arabic speakers, and provide related prevention and treatment
 S O C I A L D E V E LO PM E N T 253

information that will empower people to make informed choices A new website,
about their own health and well-being. www.minhaal.ae has
Minhaal provides reliable content through syndication agreements been created to help
with international online resources, such as WebMD. Content is educate and raise
endorsed by an advisory board that presently includes representatives awareness about
from HAAD and medical physicians from the Mubadala Healthcare
health issues amongst
network.
Arabic speakers.
DHA launched a new website in July 2008 to provide information
on its ongoing transition programme. The DHA website provides a
single point of reference for information on the strategic review of
the healthcare sector in Dubai. In addition to the website, the
DHA is promoting the DHA online community initiative. Linked to
the DHA website, this will provide an interactive public platform for
invited participants to engage with the health agenda and debate
some of the key health issues and concerns currently facing Dubai.
DHA website can be accessed at www.dha.gov.ae.

NEW FACILITIES
A wide range of top-class medical facilities are under construction in
the UAE. In the year in which Dr Marian Kennedy, one of the founders
in 1960 of the Oasis Hospital in Al Ain, passed away, a new 200-bed
facility is being built at the hospital's location to meet the demands of
the twenty-first century. Although equipped with the latest technology,
the new hospital will continue with the same philosophy as that of
its founders. The new facilities will also enhance steps presently
under way to establish Oasis Hospital as a centre for training in
midwifery and other medical teaching, including an international
residency programme
The official groundbreaking ceremony of the innovative Cleveland
Clinic Abu Dhabi (CCAD) was held in January 2008 by Mubadala and
Cleveland Clinic USA. The world-class, 360-bed (scalable to 490),
multi- specialty facility which is located on Al Sowwah Island, across
from the Abu Dhabi Mall, is scheduled to welcome its first patients
in early 2011.
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is one of a number of initiatives led by
Mubadala Healthcare, the division of Mubadala dedicated to investment
in strategic, high value and economically sustainable projects that
enhance the private healthcare infrastructure of Abu Dhabi and
the UAE.

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CCAD will be a unique extension of the Cleveland Clinic model,

providing a spectrum of specialty services that are designed to cater
to the healthcare requirements of Abu Dhabi and the region. One of
the objectives of CCAD is to address the needs of patients currently
travelling abroad for treatment. Like its counterpart in the United
States, CCAD will be a physician-led medical facility served by US-
trained and board-certified physicians. It will provide a number of
career opportunities, and the medical professionals will receive
ongoing training directly from Cleveland Clinic.
The Cleveland Clinic Mubadala Healthcare also entered into an agreement in September
Abu Dhabi will be 2008 with Wooridul Spine Hospital of the Republic of Korea to
a unique extension establish a spine centre in Abu Dhabi, the first such centre to address
of the USA model, the significant prevalence of spine and lower back injuries in the
providing a spectrum region. Scheduled for completion by the end of 2010, the Abu Dhabi
Spine Centre will treat low-acuity spine injury patients, based on
of speciality healthcare
minimally invasive treatment principles. The centre will cover spine
services for the UAE
disease prevention, diagnosis, testing, treatment, physiotherapy and
and the region.
rehabilitation for inpatients and outpatients throughout the region
and patients who currently have to travel abroad will benefit from
the highest international standards of care in Abu Dhabi
The new centre will be located in Arzanah, the mixed-used
development surrounding Zayed Stadium, alongside other Mubadala
Healthcare facilities – the Abu Dhabi Knee and Sports Medicine
Centre and the Arzanah Medical and Diagnostic Centre. Mubadala
Healthcare also signed a memorandum of understanding with Aldar
Properties in June to explore the development of new healthcare
facilities at Aldar developments in the UAE.
United Eastern Medical Services (UEM), an Abu Dhabi-based
privately owned healthcare development and investment company,
is building a new state-of-the-art 160-bed women and children's
hospital in Abu Dhabi. Umm Al-Emarat Hospital or ‘Mother of the
Emirates’ is UEM's flagship project with which it hopes to set new
standards in architecture and healthcare delivery throughout the region.
Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), Dubai’s new healthcare sector free
zone, is part of the Dubai government’s efforts to develop medical
facilities that will attract patients to Dubai from the wider region.
Work is currently under way on a 400-bed University Hospital that
will open its doors to patients in 2011. The city's first teaching
 S O C I A L D E V E LO PM E N T 255

hospital, which will function as the main tertiary care facility within Dubai Healthcare
DHCC, is part of the Dh4 billion Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum City is part of the
Academic Medical Centre, which includes the Harvard Medical School government’s efforts to
Dubai Centre (HMSDC), Dubai Harvard Foundation for Medical develop medical
Research, Maktoum Harvard Library and Jumeirah Creekside Park facilities that will
Hotel. Harvard Medical School is providing its expertise in setting up attract patients to
the facilities and will support teaching and training of doctors. The Dubai from abroad.
hospital is expected to attract medical graduates looking for work
and career training in the Gulf.

A HELPING HAND
In its quest to provide a high quality, technologically advanced health
service for the region, the UAE has not forgotten that there are people
both at home and abroad who are in dire need of medical services
and are unable to afford them. A fruitful relationship has developed
between public-private partnerships and not-for-profit organisations to
address this issue. Some of these programmes have already been
highlighted in the section on Foreign Aid.
‘Hands of Charity’, a humanitarian initiative launched by Deputy
Prime Minister HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, signed an
agreement in June with the Washington-based Children's National
Medical Centre to work together to implement medical programmes
for treatment of children suffering from birth disorders and carry
out research aimed at combating chronic, contagious and congenital
diseases found among children in the region. The initiative is under
the patronage of the Chairwoman of the Family Development
Foundation, HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak.
The ‘Generous Heart Initiative’, a health partnership between the
Red Crescent Authority (RCA), chaired by Deputy Prime Minister HH
Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the Emirates World Heart
Group (EWHG), was launched in July 2008 to provide medicine and
perform surgery on underprivileged patients suffering from heart
diseases. Hundreds of patients have been treated so far and curative,
surgical and preventive programmes were maximised during the
holy month of Ramadan.
The mobile cardiac centre is screening hundreds of heart patients
inside and outside the country and a significant number of national
patients have undergone open-heart surgery, many of whom could

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not afford to bear the high costs of the surgery, which could reach
up to Dh100,000. Operations were conducted at Al Noor hospital in
Abu Dhabi and Welcare hospital in Dubai.
The RCA-backed EWHG is also working with the Zayed Charity
Initiative for community development on the first-ever programme
in the Middle East for endoscopy-based open-heart surgery for poor
cardiac patients. The programme was announced at the open-heart
surgeons' forum hosted by EWHG. The forum was convened in
the UAE for the first time and sought to create a proper scientific
environment for exchanging expertise between heart centres in the
UAE and other countries.
Dubai Hospital is treating hundreds of visually impaired people
from over 14 countries as part of the ‘Noor Dubai’ initiative, which was
announced on 3 September by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al
Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of
Dubai. The aim of the initiative is to provide health services to at
least one million people suffering from treatable blindness and
visual impairment in developing countries on a local, regional,
and international scale.

DISEASE CONTROL
Most infectious diseases like malaria, measles and poliomyelitis that
were once endemic in the UAE have been eradicated.
The UAE began its malaria eradication efforts in 1972, culminating
in a nation-wide campaign and programme of action in 1977. By
1985, the campaign led to a sharp drop of 70 per cent in malaria
cases. Malaria was eradicated by 1998, and not a single case has been
reported since then. However, the situation continued to be monitored
by WHO experts until the country was formally declared to be malaria-
free in 2007.
Health screening is a crucial aspect of preventive medicine and
the UAE has a head start in developing a comprehensive model of
treatment. Cases of tuberculosis in UAE are few and far between
and the rate of the spread of the disease in the UAE is the lowest in
the region and the east Mediterranean zone. However, some of the
immigrants entering the UAE come from countries with a TB
occurrence rate of 60 per 100,000 people. As a result of this and
other possible risks from contagious diseases such as HIV AIDS,
 S O C I A L D E V E LO PM E N T 257

Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, leprosy, TB and syphilis – MoH has amended Hundreds of visually impaired
children from over 14
the regulations on mandatory screening tests for all expatriates
countries are being treated as
applying for visas to live, study or work for a period of not less than part of the Noor Dubai
six months in the UAE. initiative.
The Preventive Medicine Department of the Ministry of Health,
Abu Dhabi Health Authority and Dubai Health Authority are the only
authorities permitted to conduct the medical tests.

BLOOD
The UAE celebrated World Blood Donor Day 2008 in June at Emirates
Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi. The UAE is the first Arab country and the
fifth worldwide to host the event which was held under the theme

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Strict rules and ‘Giving Blood Regularly’. World Blood Donor Day 2008 had three
regulations for the broad objectives: creating greater public awareness of the necessity
control of blood of regular and voluntary donations; highlighting the fact that the
transfusions have been need for voluntary non-remunerated blood donation is continuous;
introduced for and emphasising that the health and safety of blood donors is an
all government important issue.
and private health A WHO report issued at the end of World Blood Donation Week
praised the UAE and China for their exemplary blood donation
facilities throughout
services: the two countries boast a 100 per cent disease-free blood
the Emirates.
donation scheme.
The government set up the national blood transfusion programme
in 1990 and has worked hard in the meantime to foster a culture
that would ensure 100 per cent voluntary and free blood donation.
The UAE was the first country in the region to have stopped the
importation of blood in 1984 following the discovery of HIV/AIDS
and other contagious viruses.
In July 2008, the Federal Cabinet approved a system for regulating
blood transfusion throughout the Emirates. The mechanism, which
was developed by the MoH, made it mandatory for all government
and private health facilities at federal and local level to implement
strict rules and regulations so as to ensure high standards of safety
for patients in need of blood.

COUNTERFEIT MEDICINES
A new national centre for control and monitoring of counterfeit
medicines is being set up in Dubai under the authority of the MoH’s
Pharmaceutical Control Department. The body will be made up of
representatives of health, customs and other relevant authorities. As
part of the project a common registry for medicines will be created in
order to unify the process. A central committee has commenced
devising benchmarks and standards required to set up the centre. The
centre's mandate includes raising awareness among the public
about the proper use of medicines under drug control regulations
and the project demands constructive cooperation between federal and
local agencies to ensure its success.
 M E DIA & CULTURE

The media and culture sectors are

undergoing a period of reorganisation,
revitalisation and renaissance in the UAE,
with particular emphasis on the links
between East and West.
ADMC launched The National in 2008,
a quality daily broadsheet with an
impressive list of international and
national journalists on its staff.
 261

MEDIA & CULTURE

THE MEDIA AND CULTURE SECTORS ARE UNDERGOING a period of reorganisation, The Abu Dhabi 2030
revitalisation and renaissance in the UAE, with particular emphasis on vision seeks to
investment in world-class resources, introducing international best establish the emirate as
practices into all areas of activity, stimulating and encouraging local a regional centre for
participation, and at the same time forging bridges between East
culture with a global
and West. In particular, the Abu Dhabi 2030 vision seeks to establish
capital city as its hub.
the emirate as a regional centre for culture with a global capital city
as its hub.

NMC
Following a period of government restructuring in 2006, the
National Media Council (NMC) was established to oversee media
development in the UAE and to support media initiatives. All
jurisdictions and responsibilities concerning media affairs that
previously fell under the dissolved Ministry of Information and
Culture were transferred to the NMC. In particular, the core media
bodies of the old ministry, in the form of the Press and Publications
Department, the External Information Department and the Emirates
News Agency (WAM), are now under the authority of the NMC.
One of the NMC’s primary tasks is to issue media licences, including
the licensing of media personnel and companies and the publication
of newspapers, magazines, periodicals and books in free zones.
The NMC has the power to cancel or suspend media licences if the
holders are in violation of attached conditions.
Labour Minister Saqr Ghobash is Chairman of the NMC, which
is governed by an executive committee and a dedicated board of
directors. The organisational structure of the NMC was re-examined
in 2008, leading to the redefinition of its three main sections:
media activities; the news agency and the external information
department; and institutional services and support units. In addition,
Michael Garin, a highly respected media industry executive for nearly
40 years, CEO of Central European Media Enterprises (NASDAQ:
CETV), was appointed to the board of the NMC in 2008 to assist the
board in meeting the challenges ahead.

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EMIRATES NEWS AGENCY

Emirates News Agency (WAM or Wakalat Anba'a al-Emarat) began
operations in 1976. Since mid-2006 it has been under the authority
of the National Media Council. The agency transmits news on
national, regional and Arab affairs and is a widely respected source
for international media. WAM is a member of the Group of Arab Gulf
Cooperation Council news agencies, the Federation of Arab News
Agencies (FANA), the Islamic News Agencies Union, the Pool of Non-
Aligned News Agencies and the Organisation of Asia-Pacific News
Agencies (OANA). Its headquarters is in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi,
with other offices in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain, Ra's
al-Khaimah, Fujairah, Al Ain and Madinat Zayed.
WAM maintains a team of around 25 reporters outside the UAE, with
offices in the Arab cities of Cairo, Beirut, Rabat, Riyadh, Damascus,
Sanaa, Algiers, Jerusalem, Gaza, Khartoum, Amman, Baghdad and
Tunis. Other offices and reporters are located in London, Paris,
Brussels, Geneva, Moscow, Washington, New York, Tehran, Islamabad,
New Delhi, Istanbul and Canberra. The agency also operates a website
(www.wam.ae) with services in both Arabic and English.
Since it was established, WAM has kept abreast of changes in
technology and now distributes its news and picture services by
satellite and internet, both locally and internationally. Over 90 per
cent of its photographs are available in digital format, which has
helped both to improve efficiency and to cut costs.
WAM provides daily WAM provides daily news coverage of official and other events
news coverage of throughout the UAE and is one of the key sources of information for
official and other all media establishments in the country. It provides coverage of
events throughout the around 85 to 90 per cent of official activities at home and abroad. In
UAE and is one of the addition, WAM plays an important role in documenting development
in the UAE, and in providing information to researchers and others.
key sources of
WAM receives the transmissions of 30 Arab, Gulf and international
information for all
news agencies and has cooperation and news exchange agreements
media establishments
with 20 Arab, Asian and international news agencies, part of an
in the country. effort to strengthen collaboration between the media of the UAE and
other countries.
Meanwhile, WAM, via a central news portal run by IPS, relays daily
news in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese and Swahili languages
to over 1000 newspapers and 2000 broadcast stations worldwide.
The current figures show that over 6000 media institutions from 97
countries subscribe to WAM, an achievement made possible by the Chairman of the UAE
Journalists' Union,
news exchange cooperation agreement between WAM and Inter
Mohammed Yussef, receives
Press Service (IPS). The IPS news portal can be accessed on the Arab Media Creativity
www.ipsnews.net, while WAM's daily English news as well as selected Award from Prime Minister
news service in Spanish, Portuguese, Swahili and Japanese languages of Kuwait Sheikh Nasser Al
Mohammed Al Sabah (left)
are relayed over the internet. and Secretary General of the
WAM organises regular training workshops as part of a long-term Arab Media Forum Mahdi Al
strategy for building the professional capacities of its editors and Khamis (centre).
those working for other media outlets.

UAEINTERACT
UAE Interact (www.uaeinteract.com), supported by the National
Media Council, has been in continuous operation for 13 years and
was one of the first Internet sites to carry daily news stories on the
UAE. All items posted to the website are categorised by subject area
and archived, with the result that the site contains a substantial
database of searchable articles on the UAE going back as far as
1997. The site presents news and information in eleven languages,
Arabic, English, Russian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Korean, Spanish,
French, German, Italian and Portuguese. All sections are updated

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264 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

regularly and they contain a wide range of comprehensive information

on the country, together with popular films and other downloadable
resources such as digital files of the UAE Yearbook. UAE Interact is
consistently listed by Google as one of the top websites on the UAE.

ABU DHABI MEDIA COMPANY

Abu Dhabi Media Company (ADMC), set up in June 2007 to revitalise
the media industry in the UAE's capital, has already established itself
as a leading multi-platform media and entertainment provider in the
MENA area. ADMC was created as a public joint stock company from
the assets of Emirates Media Incorporated. It employs 1100 people
across its operating units, which include, television, radio, publishing,
digital media, distribution, and printing.
ADMC has negotiated a ADMC owns and operates Abu Dhabi TV, Abu Dhabi Sports Channel,
series of investment Emirates TV, Abu Dhabi Radio, Emarat FM Radio, Holy Quran Radio,
initiatives with and Sawt Al Musiqa; Al Ittihad, The National and Al Mal newspapers;
Hollywood giants that Zahrat Al Khaleej, Al Super and Majid magazines, as well as other
businesses, including United Printing Press.
are destined to
As outlined in Economic Development, ADMC has also fostered a
establish its position as
series of investment initiatives with Hollywood giants that are
a global media
destined to establish its position as a global media company, at the
company, at the same same time nurturing and promoting indigenous media. These include
time nurturing the creation of two film funds with Warner Brothers and the formation
and promoting of the film financing subsidiary, imagenation abu dhabi, that plans to
indigenous media. spend more than US$1billion (Dh3.67 billion) developing, financing
and producing as many as 40 feature films over the next five years
(see below). ADMC has also formed a joint venture with Arvato
Middle East Sales, a subsidiary of Bertelsmann, the German-based
media company, to create the digital media brand Getmo.
CEO Edward Borgerding, former Executive Vice President of Walt
Disney International, was hired in March 2008 to head the newly
re-branded ADMC.

PRINT MEDIA
The UAE is the regional centre of the print, publishing and advertising
industries, with a growth rate of 15 to 20 per cent expected year-
on-year.
ADMC launched two newspapers in 2008: a quality daily broadsheet
The National published its first issue on 20 April 2008, whilst Al Mal,
The entertainment industry is
thriving in the UAE, with poetry,
dance and music extravaganzas
staged throughout the country but
especially in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
266 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

WORLD EXPOS
The UAE’s participation at Expo 2008, held in Zaragoza, Spain, was crowned by winning the organisers’
gold medal for content and design. Seen by almost a million visitors the UAE exhibition was created
around a series of films that revealed the story of the UAE’s rapid development and its efforts to solve
issues of water supply in one of the driest places on earth! In a shift away from more traditional
approaches to displaying the country, the story-driven 2008 exhibition on the UAE, adhering to the‘Water
and Sustainability’ Expo theme, highlighted the UAE’s modern approach to solving developmental
challenges such as water supply and sustainable energy. In a speech accepting the gold award on behalf
of the UAE Government, Minister of Labour, Saqr Ghobash, dedicated the accolade to the UAE’s
President, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to maintaining
its participation in World Expositions.
‘A pavilion like no other’, is how the imaginative and appealing structure for the United Arab Emirates’
pavilion was described by Saqr Ghobash at the official launch of the country’s participation at Expo 2010
– the largest ever World Exposition event, scheduled to open on 1 May 2010 in Shanghai. Inspired by
one of the country’s most evocative natural landscapes, the precipitous sand-dunes of the UAE’s
legendary deserts, the building is a triumph of form and function, harmonising nature and architecture
to create a fascinating structure that commands attention and reminds visitors of the Expo 2010
theme: ‘Better City, Better Life’.
Designed by Foster + Partners, one of the world’s leading architectural teams, the building will be
the first ever truly recyclable Expo pavilion. Following completion of Expo the building will be
dismantled and moved to a more permanent location, thus gaining maximum value from the
extensive planning, design and construction that is involved in Expo participation.
The building’s strong appeal lies not just in its unusual organic form but also in the reflective nature
of its outer covering, helping to recreate the changing patterns and colours of the UAE’s natural and
urban environments. Diffused light penetrates the building during the day and spectacularly illuminates
the pavilion by night. Also in keeping with the theme of Expo 2010, the building will demonstrate a
number of innovative environmental strategies, including the UAE’s ambitious sustainable agenda
programme. The unique pavilion is considered as a beacon for such principles, its high-tech form an
expression of the passive environmental measures it employs.
 M E D I A & C U LT U R E 267

Shaped by the wind, a natural dune appears rough on the side that bears the full force of the wind,
and smooth on the surface that collects the sand after it has been tipped over the ridge. The design
seeks to replicate this, deflecting the Shanghai winds and protecting the smooth, leeward side. The
curve of the dune responds to the arc of the sun and is orientated towards the north, with the solid
shell forms protecting against the direct glare from the south and allowing indirect light to enter the
habitable areas via a complex series of louvres.
The slopes rise to 20 metres in height to enclose the exhibition spaces within and arched entrances
protected by canopies shelter visitors as they queue to enter the building. The outer finish is rosy gold-
coloured stainless steel designed to shimmer in the changing light.
The UAE pavilion is located in the eastern section of the Expo site, south of the river and within easy
reach of the Chinese pavilion on the opposite side of the main thoroughfare. It is approached via an
entrance along the south ring road, across the elevated Expo walkway and is oriented to address a
public square in the north-east corner of the site.
Situated on largest plot size (6000 square metres) available to Expo participants, ‘The Dunes’, as the
building has become known, has a footprint of 3452 square metres and encloses a total of approximately
3900 square metres of exhibition space, information areas, and other facilities.
The overall installation is a celebration of city living in the UAE – the swiftness with which the nation
has built modern cities and, with the resources that they are investing in sustainable technology, their
global leadership in helping us all to live better in the cities of tomorrow.
Visitors will approach The Dunes by a walkway, which follows a stream of water towards the entrance.
Proverbs and quotations along the route will gradually immerse people into the ideas and themes of the
exhibition. Entering the pavilion, visitors will be presented with a short film, taking them from the birth of
the UAE to today. Next they will enter a large space where reactive technology and AV is used to present
the daily lives of an Emirati family. From there, moving into a large, darkened theatre space, visitors will be
taken on a simulated‘dream journey’to the UAE, showcasing its many magnificent attractions.
The final area of the pavilion provides visitors with a wide range of information on the country. After
leaving the building they will find comfortable, shaded seating where they can relax and contemplate.

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Advertising spending
in the UAE increased by
47 per cent in the first
half of the year from
US$655 million (Dh2.41
billion) in 2007 to
Dh3.41 billion (US$929
million) in the first six
months of 2008,
according to statistics
compiled by the Pan
Arab Research Centre.
the UAE’s first Arabic language weekly financial newspaper, was
launched on 23 June.
ADMC appointed former London Daily Telegraph editor Martin
Newland to head The National. Newland has hired 175 journalists,
including 40 home news reporters and 25 foreign correspondents to
ensure that the paper meets international standards.
The 48-page tabloid Al Mal focuses on business and financial
developments in the Gulf region, with particular emphasis on the
UAE, filling a niche for comprehensive financial analysis.
Two of the oldest papers in the country, Gulf News and Khaleej
Times, celebrated their thirtieth anniversaries in 2008. Following the
launch of the country’s first tabloid 7Days, three years ago, there
has been an upsurge in new newspapers. 7Days was followed by
Xpress and Emirates Today – now reborn as Emirates Business. One
of the driving forces behind this development is that the UAE's
newspapers are taking the major share of print media advertising.
Ad-spend in the UAE has increased from Dh3.19 billion (US$869
million) in 2005 to Dh4.77 billion (US$1.3 billion) in 2007 – the
highest in the Middle East, according to the 2007 Advertising Spend
Report issued by the Pan-Arab Research Centre. Of this, around two
thirds went to Arabic and English-language newspapers. Market
analysts estimate that the UAE's print advertising expenditure will
rise to Dh8.8 billion (US$2.4 billion) in 2009.
Dubai Press Club
Despite the upsurge in print media, there is a general awareness
that journalism in the region requires assistance to develop. Dubai
Press Club is one of the organisations that have been established to
help local journalists, male and female, hone their skills. Since 1999,
the club has sought to establish itself as a centre of journalistic
excellence and a meeting-place for local, regional and international
media. The club is now a well-established forum for journalists and
media professionals to debate, discuss and deliberate upon issues of
relevance to daily life.
Dubai Press Club has also endeavoured to play a vital role in the
growth of the regional media industry through the launch of unique
initiatives such as the Arab Media Forum and Arab Journalism Awards.
The seventh Arab Media Forum, which was held from 23 to 24 of
April 2008, provided a platform for two days of intensive deliberations
 M E D I A & C U LT U R E 269

on the impact of new technologies on the media. It brought together

over 600 local, regional and international media and 50 industry
experts under the theme ‘Bridging Arab Media Through Technology’.
The Arab Journalism Awards were presented by HH Sheikh
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime
Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, at the closing ceremony of the
forum. Comprising 12 different categories and special honours, the
prestigious awards recognised excellence in Arab journalism. Makram
Mohammed Ahmad received the 'Media Personality of the Year' award
for 2008 and special awards were presented to the relatives of
deceased Iraqi journalists, Shihab Al Tamimi and Ahmad Al Rabei.
In September 2008, Dubai Press Club in association with the UAE
Journalists Union celebrated the first anniversary of a decree issued
on 25 September 2007 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
prohibiting the imprisonment of journalists for media-related offences.
The decree, which ended the criminalisation of press offences, greatly
enhanced freedom of the press in the region, encouraging open and
independent journalism and was praised locally and internationally, A prohibition on the
particularly by the Arab Journalists Union and the International
imprisonment of
Federation of Journalists.
journalists for media-
This prohibition on the imprisonment of journalists is also contained
related offences is
in the new federal Media Law, which is a revision of the 1980 federal
reiterated in the new
Press and Publications Law. The new law, due to be gazetted in early
2009, also states that there shall not be prior censorship of any media federal Media Law,
outlets in the country, recognising that a free press is a basic building which is due to be
block of a free society. gazetted in early 2009.

MEDIA ZONES
The year 2008 saw the launch of a new ‘Arab-centric’ media free zone
in Abu Dhabi, another milestone in pursuit of Abu Dhabi emirate’s
strategy to become a creative hub for the media, as well as for arts and
culture. Set up by the Abu Dhabi Media Free Zone Authority, twofour54
(geographical coordinates of Abu Dhabi) was launched on 12 October
2008 with the aim of becoming a centre of excellence for Arabic
content creation. A temporary campus for the media park is located
near Khalifa Park. A permanent 200,000 square metre media
park containing production studios and post production suites, as well
as transmission services for local regional and international film,

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Twofour54, Abu broadcasting, digital publishing and music industries, will be

Dhabi’s new Arab- constructed by 2013 in the Mina Zayed area.
centric’media free Dubai’s Tecom Business Parks brings under its ambit media-related
zone, was launched in clusters such as Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio
October 2008 with the City and International Media Production Zone
aim of becoming The first media cluster, Dubai Internet City (DIC), opened in
October 2000 and has consistently recorded higher year-on-year
a centre of excellence
performance, registering a growth rate of 33 per cent in 2007. DIC
for Arabic
was quickly followed by Dubai Media City, a dedicated media centre
content creation.
boasting the largest media community in the region. DMC grew by
40 per cent in 2007. Dubai Studio City, which facilitates all aspects
of film, TV and radio production, also strives to participate in
initiatives that help strengthen the film industry in Dubai. Its
relationship with Manhattan Film Academy has brought world-class
industry experts to the emirate, to the benefit of the young UAE
film-making community.
Fujairah Creative City, a media free zone that was established
in 2007 under the auspices of the Fujairah Culture and Media
Authority, will be completed in 2009 with the cost of the first phase
running to Dh201.85 million (US$55 million). Dunya Fujairah TV
was the first channel to start operations from the city, which also
has a network of FM radio stations targeting foreign communities in
the UAE. Twenty-four new satellite TV channels went on air from
Creative City at the end of 2007 and the beginning of 2008, raising
the total number of operating channels from the city to 37. The
4000 square metre Creative City will have seven zones for radio, TV,
press, technology, a media-training academy, theatre and cinema.
All UAE media free zones are subject to UAE media-licensing
regulations as operated by the NMC and all media activities in free
zones must comply with relevant UAE laws and regulations.
Characters from the popular
UAE cartoon Freej. Ibda’a Awards
Ibda'a Media Student Awards were initiated by Dubai Media City in
association with the International Advertising Association in 2001 to
encourage creativity and excellence in media studies regionally and
globally. Prizes include internships with global media companies.
The 2007 edition of Ibda'a attracted over 2200 entries from more
than 21 countries, including Egypt, India, Iran, Lebanon, Pakistan,
the Philippines, the UK and UAE.
 M E D I A & C U LT U R E 271

In recognition of the changing face of technology, the seventh Ibda’a

Media Student Awards on 29 November 2008 featured the introduction
of a new ‘mobile film’ category, honouring the best short film captured
through a mobile phone. Other award categories include journalism
(non-news), radio, animation, graphic arts, analogue photography,
digital photography, print advertising, TV advertising, film/TV feature,
TV documentary and mobile film (www.ibdaa-awards.ae).
Qatari poet Khalil Al Shebrami
Al Tamimi (centre), winner
TELEVISION of Dh1 million in the‘Millions
Abu Dhabi TV, the broadcasting branch of ADMC, launched a Poet’ TV contest with UAE
Foreign Minister Sheikh
new channel ‘Plus One’ in 2008. New programmes were also Abdullah bin Zayed
commissioned for Abu Dhabi Sports Channel and Emirates TV, Al Nahayan and Sheikh
including a new reality contest, ‘Ton of Cash’. Billed as the largest scale Ahmed bin Mohammed bin
Rashid Al Maktoum.
reality TV show in the Arab world, ‘Ton of Cash’ was shot on location
in the UAE and Oman over 60 days.
Homegrown TV production firms are gearing up to face the
challenge from abroad and are in fact producing some of the most
successful programmes in the region. For example, ‘Prince of Poets’
has become one of the most watched TV shows in the Arab world.
'Prince of Poets' was developed in association with the Abu Dhabi Highly successful
Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) to take classical poetry televised pan-Arab
to the masses. The same production company is also behind ‘Millions poetry contests tap
Poet’, a live pan-Arab poetry contest. Both programmes tap into the into the popularity of
popularity of poetry in the region and prove that a blend of heritage poetry in the region
and modern technology can be extremely successful. and prove that a blend
‘Millions Poet’ was one of the programmes that won three gold of heritage and
and two silver medals for the UAE at the tenth Gulf Radio and TV
modern technology
Production Festival held in Bahrain. The UAE took part in the
can be extremely
festival for the first time in 2008 under the umbrella of the National
successful.
Media Council. The second gold went to 'Step', a popular talk show,
also produced by Abu Dhabi TV, and the third was awarded to
'Vitamin', an awareness programme produced by Dubai TV. A religious
programme entitled 'Good Morning' produced by Abu Dhabi Radio and
'Windows of Stones' produced by Sharjah TV won silver medals.
Noor Dubai, a new free-to-air community television channel,
commenced broadcasting at the beginning of Ramadan in 2008.
The station, owned by Arab Media Group and transmitted through
Arabsat and Nilesat, is a logical progression of the popular Noor

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272 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
Najwa Karam performs at a
grand ceremony in Beirut on 1
November 2008 to launch the
UAE-based pan-Arab satellite
music channel 'Al-Dafrah'.
ADACH organises a range of
cultural exhibitions
throughout the year.
Radio station. The channel encourages and facilitates positive and
constructive discussions on current social, environmental, religious and
humanitarian themes that are impacting on the UAE, highlighting
both the continuity and change between generations in this rapidly
evolving society.
DUBAI CULTURE AND ART AUTHORITY
The Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (DCAA) was launched in 2008
with a mandate to create a rich environment for Emirati heritage,
visual arts, theatre, music, literature and poetry. Various initiatives
undertaken by the DCAA are outlined below.
ADACH
Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH), which was
established in 2005, is a government organisation with far-sighted
aspirations – to harness the pride of the people of the UAE through
the development of its cultural heritage, and to be the leading
cultural development organisation in the region. Internationally it
is contributing to the strengthening of intercultural dialogue by
nurturing projects that encourage the sharing of cultural traditions
and experience.
ADACH has a holistic vision of culture, which embraces both tangible
and intangible heritage. It is committing all its resources to the
preservation of architectural and archaeological assets as well as to
the development of Emirati and international arts, music, literature
and cinema.
ADACH is pursuing a number of initiatives in arts and culture,
detailed below, that reflect its vision for the cultural development of Abu
Dhabi. It has also taken over existing facilities in Abu Dhabi, including
the popular arts and library facilities at the Cultural Foundation, which
it intends to develop. Together, the initiatives constitute a programme
rich in symbolism and importance to the people of the UAE, and
provide a unique representation of what Abu Dhabi has to offer
the rest of the world.
FILM
In the wake of global economic upheaval, American and European
film executives have turned to the Gulf in search of new sources of film
financing. As we saw in the chapter on Economic Development,
the result is that Emirati film-makers are the beneficiaries of an Legendary Hollywood actress
Jane Fonda receiving a
extraordinarily rapid build-up in the infrastructure and funding needed
lifetime achievement award at
to support a local film industry. The number of films made each year the Middle East International
in the UAE is rising continuously. Thus last year there were over 160 Film Festival in Abu Dhabi.
shorts produced, and in the last three years, three feature films came
to fruition, with others in various stages of production. It seems that
this is only the beginning.
In 2008 Participant Media of Los Angeles, the maker of thought-
provoking films such as the award-winning environmental film
‘An Inconvenient Truth’, teamed up with ADMC's imagenation abu
dhabi to create a US$250 million (Dh917.5 million) fund to finance
15 to 18 films in the next five years. This fund will facilitate the making
of films that not only entertain, but also raise awareness of issues and
inspire social change. Participant will take the lead in developing the
films, as well as overseeing production and arranging worldwide
distribution. The company will establish an office in Abu Dhabi.
Imagenation has also formed an alliance with National Geographic
Entertainment, best-known for producing the award-winning ‘March
of the Penguins’, to produce ten to 15 films costing US$100 million
over the next five years. Each film will have a budget of between US$5
million and US$60 million. The aim is to make movies ‘that focus on
people's relationship to the world, their environment and each other.’

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The Circle
ADACH established The In recognition of the significant role films can play in promoting the
Circle in 2007, an culture and heritage of the UAE and the region, ADACH established
initiative devoted to The Circle in 2007. The initiative is devoted to the production,
the production, financing and encouragement of film-making talent in the Middle
financing and East. ADACH, in association with the world-renowned New York Film
encouragement of Academy, also established a film and acting school in 2008 that is
film-making talent in devoted to developing the film industry in the UAE. New York Film
Academy – Abu Dhabi will assist ADACH to foster and support regional
the Middle East.
artistic talent and to create an environment conducive to strong cultural
and artistic expression.
Throughout the year, a variety of programmes are organised by The
Circle, informing local investors of financing structures, showcasing
new artists, improving the skills of Emirati and Middle East film-
makers and facilitating production collaborations.
Circle Film Labs, also known as Adasa, is a year-round effort devoted
to nurturing and growing the skills of emerging Emirati film-makers.
Adasa provides a unique opportunity to preserve Emirati culture by
creating local stories that can be filmed and shared with the world.
The Circle hosted a conference parallel to the Middle East
International Film Festival (see below) that enabled young film-makers
to interact with renowned producers and directors from around the
world. In turn, The Circle Conference launched the Shasha Grant – an
international US$100,000 screenwriting contest designed to identify,
develop and launch the career of an up-and-coming film-maker; and
the Cloeween Connection, which will spotlight 15 emerging directors
in the region and facilitate collaborations on their next films through
the Producers Circle.
Interactive Media Circle included discussion panels and an
exhibition focused on the introduction of new media technology.
The combination of cutting-edge exhibits and advanced interactive
experiences was designed to promote Abu Dhabi as a prime
destination for new media production in the Middle East.

MEIFF
In recognition of the role that cinema plays in contemporary culture,
ADACH organised the second Middle East International Film Festival
(MEIFF), from 10 to 19 October 2008 in Abu Dhabi.
 M E D I A & C U LT U R E 275

This year prize money for the prestigious Black Pearl Awards was The second Middle
increased to more than US$1 million, giving MEIFF its own unique East International Film
personality within the film festivals of the world. The awards were Festival provided ten
the culmination of ten action-packed days of cinema, with 152 movies action-packed days of
and 186 screenings shown in five Abu Dhabi venues. A total of 76 high-quality cinema at
feature films and 34 short films from over 35 countries competed for
a number of venues
the awards.
throughout Abu Dhabi,
In addition to a wide range of acclaimed international feature and
including the
documentary films, including several made in the UAE and elsewhere
on environmental issues, the organisers ran a special event in spectacular Emirates
partnership with the Paris-based socially conscious Cinema Verité to Palace Hotel.
pay tribute to the Oscar winning actress Jane Fonda.
MEIFF also launched the 'Most' initiative during the festival in
conjunction with The Saban Center for Middle Eastern Policy at The
Brookings Institute in Washington. 'Most', 'Muslims on Screen and
Television', will become a cultural resource providing valuable
information about Islam and Muslims for the US entertainment
community. Its aim is to meet the critical need for increased
understanding and accurate representation on both sides.
In addition MEIFF hosted the Arab Film Industry Research Circle
covering the current situation of Arab cinema in the Levant, Egypt,
the Gulf and North Africa, and ran a symposium on women in the
entertainment industry.

DIFF
The fifth edition of the popular Dubai International Film Festival
(DIFF) was held from 11 to 18 December 2008, building on 2007
when the festival experienced record-breaking figures in industry
and press registration, audience attendance and films from around
the world. DIFF continues to deliver innovative and universally
important programming, in line with the festival's mandate to foster
intercultural dialogue. New to DIFF in 2008, animation was included
as a special category in the ‘Out of Competition’ offerings. ‘Cultural
Bridge, Meeting Minds’, ‘Celebration of Indian Cinema’ and ‘Cinema
for Children’ and ‘Rhythm and Reels’ continued in their roles to
showcase the best in international cinema. ‘The Day After Peace’ was
chosen to head the ‘Rhythm and Reels’ line-up for 2008 and the
screening was followed by performances from local and international
artists, uniting around the most fundamental issue that humanity faces.

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276 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
Emirati director Abdullah
Hassan Ahmed, winner of the
best short film at the
Gulf Film Festival.
In addition, the Dubai Film Market provides a platform to trade film
content locally, in line with the festival’s commitment to stimulate
regional and international film production and trade.
Other Film Festivals
In April 2008, Dubai hosted the inaugural Gulf Film Festival (GFF)
dedicated to films produced in the region. ‘When The People Spoke’, a
film about the face-off between moderates and fundamentalists over
women’s rights won the best documentary prize at GFF, whilst Iraqi
film-maker Mohammad al-Daradji’s debut feature Ahlaam (Dreams)
won the top prize.
Under the patronage of the DCAA, supported by AMG and DIFF,
and hosted by Dubai Knowledge Village, ‘Documentary Voices: Pulling
Focus’, the region’s first-ever film festival focusing exclusively on
documentaries premiered in Dubai in July 2008.
About 20 thought-provoking documentary films depicting various
themes, including music, politics, war, peace, and faith, were screened
and critically reviewed during the event. The documentaries were top-
quality productions sourced from Arab countries, the US and Iran.
DCAA recognises that documentaries have created some of the most
compelling perspectives of life and society in today’s world and see
the festival as an opportunity to raise the profile of documentary
film-making in the UAE.
Arts Grants
Organisations such as the Emirates Foundation are also fostering
indigenous artistic talent. This year, 25 Emirati writers and artists were
awarded grants under the Emirates Foundation arts grants programme
for visual arts, theatre, music, literature and film. The recipients in the
latest round of awards include film-makers, writers and poets.
An Emirates Foundation-funded production, ‘Bint Mariam’, was
awarded second prize at GFF and second place in the short film
category at the Arab Film Festival in Rotterdam. ‘Bint Mariam’
(‘Mariam's Daughter’), which was filmed in 2008 in Ra’s al-Khaimah,
is directed by local film-maker Saeed Salmeen Al Murry.
BOOKS
The number of books published in Arabic, both original works
and translations, is far less than in other regions and languages.
 M E D I A & C U LT U R E 277

Translation, in particular, has been identified as a way to enhance

knowledge transfer to the Arab world. At the same time translation
is seen as a key tool to foster intercultural dialogue.
‘Kalima’ is a major initiative launched by ADACH that funds
the translation, printing and distribution of foreign literature into
Arabic. Every year, Kalima selects 100 renowned titles of classic,
contemporary and modern writing from around the globe and
translates them into Arabic for widespread distribution throughout
the Arab world.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation through its ‘Kalima’is a major
'Tarjem' programme, which was launched in February 2008, is translation initiative
pursuing an ambitious target of translating more than 1000 books launched by ADACH
in three years, to stimulate high quality translation of the world's that funds the
bestsellers from various languages into Arabic. Topics range from translation, printing
business administration and environment to literature, including and distribution
Nobel Prize winner Doris Lessing's Memories of a Survivor and former of foreign literature
US Vice-President Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth. into Arabic.
The foundation is also publishing the world's first comprehensive
Arabic Narrative Encyclopaedia, exploring, analysing and documenting
the Arabic literary genre.

Abu Dhabi International Book Fair

The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair is probably the Middle East’s
fastest growing book fair. Held from 11 to 16 March in 2008, 482
exhibitors from 42 countries attended the eighteenth fair, a 25 per
cent growth in space, with around 600,000 titles from 400 global
publishers on display. The addition of new venues for events and a
large range of services to exhibitors, visitors and the press at the
state-of the art Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, in addition to
a strict adherence to copyright standards, ensured that the fair
achieved a high level of professionalism. The fair is organised by
Kitab, a joint venture between ADACH and the Frankfurt Book Fair.

Sheikh Zayed Book Awards

The Sheikh Zayed Book Awards recognise significant contributions to
Arabic culture in nine diverse categories and are designed to help
foster scholarship and creative development in Arabic culture. Former
Moroccan Minister and Ambassador to the United States, Mohammed

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Benaissa was named ‘Cultural Personality of the Year’ at the 2008

Sheikh Zayed Book Award for his unique contribution to Arabic culture,
walking away with a prize of Dh1 million (US$272,000). Winners in six
other categories were also celebrated for their achievements in
fostering cultural development in the Arab World, each receiving
Dh750,000.
The aim of the Sheikh The Sheikh Zayed Book Awards secretariat also organises seminars
Zayed Book Awards, in Europe and elsewhere to spread awareness about the award and
which were established to encourage translation of literature, at the same time building
in October 2006 in connections between Arab and other cultures. For more information
memory of the late click on www.zayedaward.com.
Sheikh Zayed bin
ECSSR
Sultan Al Nahyan, is to
The ECSSR, founded in 1994 in Abu Dhabi, is an independent
foster scholarship and
institution dedicated to the promotion of academic research and
creativity, creating an
empirical enquiry. ECSSR serves as a focal point for scholarship on
environment to political, strategic, military, environmental, economic and social issues
celebrate pertinent to the UAE, the Gulf and the greater Middle East through
achievements in Arab the sponsorship of research and studies conducted by scholars
culture and to from around the globe.
showcase The core of its work lies in identifying and analysing issues of vital
contributions to significance, predicting future trends and devising management
international literature strategies to cope with such issues. As well as maintaining and training
and the arts. its own staff of researchers, it hosts conferences, symposia, workshops
and lecture series renowned for the eminence of the participants and
the quality of their content and influence.
The ECSSR’s publishing activities have made it a major source of
specialised scholarly publications in the region. As well as publishing
monographs in its International Studies Series, it also publishes the
proceedings of conferences, symposia and lectures in Emirates
Occasional Papers (an English series) and Strategic Studies (an Arabic
series) In addition to these and other publications, ECSSR translates
into Arabic works of importance to the centre and its audience, both
regionally and globally.
Publications during 2008 include the following: two books, Arabian
Gulf Security, Internal and External Challenges; China, India and the
United States: Competition for Energy Resources, edited by ECSSR; ‘Indo-
Iranian Relations and the Arab Prism’ by P. R. Kumaraswamy in the
Emirates Occasional Papers series; From Militants to Politicians: Atavist
 M E D I A & C U LT U R E 279

Islam and the Concept of Democratic Peace by James Wylie in Emirates

Lecture Series; Two Visions of US Foreign Policy: Republican and
Democrat by Rudolph W. Giuliani, John Edwards in International
Studies; The Experience of the UAE in Studying Public Opinion by
Ahmad Mahmoud Al Astal in Strategic Studies; and Iran’s Potential to
Develop Nuclear Weapons Technology and Materials by John Large in
Emirates Lecture Series – Arabic. Log on to www.ecssr.ac.ae for more
information.

MUSIC
ADACH is committed to presenting the finest performing arts from
around the world to the broadest possible audience and music features
strongly in these plans.
Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Festival has brought major classical
concerts to Abu Dhabi each spring and the Al Ain Festival, which is
held under the patronage of Foreign Minister HH Sheikh Abdullah bin
Zayed Al Nahyan, has continued to delight music lovers for the past
eight years. The Al Ain Classical Music Festival 2008 was expanded
from its traditional three-day event into an 11- day celebration, taking
in productions in both Al Ain and Abu Dhabi.
Al Ain staged the region’s first Arabic performance of Mozart's
celebrated opera Don Giovanni in 2008, combining the libretto, music
and theatre talents of both Europe and the Middle East. This was a
universal production, produced in cooperation with Milan’s celebrated
Accademia Teatro alla Scala, a theme reflected in the cosmopolitan
mix of the attending audience.
In 2008 another initiative by ADACH added a new dimension to
the music scene. Abu Dhabi Classics, a blend of classic, symphony,
jazz and ethnic music, will run from 24 October 2008 to 7 May
2009. Music lovers are being given the opportunity to celebrate weekly
live concerts of some of the world's most gifted musicians who
represent the best that the contemporary performing arts scene has
to offer. The selection is based not only on international recognition,
but also on the basis that the artists in question have chosen to
World music is a central
specialise in an integration of music styles, a fusion of sounds,
feature of Abu Dhabi Classics.
instruments and influences. Apart from great music performed by
world-renowned artists and orchestras from all parts of the world,
Abu Dhabi Classics is also focusing on music education, especially
in the form of workshops for school children.

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In Dubai, the Dubai Event Management Corporation’s partnership

with New York's Metropolitan Opera will bring to Dubai the Met’s
innovative series of live opera transmission filmed in HD and
presented with multi-channel, surround-sound audio. Dubai joins a
network of 28 countries and 850 movie theatres and performing
arts centres staging some of the critically acclaimed series of live
high-definition performances.

THEATRE
The curtain rose on 10 August 2008 on the Dubai Festival for Youth
Theatre, an event that seeks to celebrate young theatre talent in the
UAE. Over ten days, the festival, organised under the auspices of the
DCAA at the premises of the Cultural and Scientific Association,
provided a rare treat for theatre lovers, presenting a new play in Arabic
every night. The plays, featuring local and regional themes, were
written and directed by some of the well-known names in the region.
The organisers of the Youth Theatre Festival hope that such initiatives
will provide an opportunity for young nationals to develop their skills
and talent and to possibly identify theatre as a career opportunity.

ART
Supported by ADACH, ArtParis Abu Dhabi returned to Abu Dhabi
Artparis Abu Dhabi, from 18 to 21 November 2008, reasserting the capital’s position
organised in as meeting point for contemporary art in the region. Both the first
partnership with successful ArtParis Abu Dhabi in 2007 and the 2008 exhibition
ADACH and TDIC at placed an emphasis on promoting Arab artists, young talent and
Emirates Palace Hotel, contemporary art. A total of 700 artists, representing 22 countries
is widely recognised as participated in ArtParis Abu Dhabi, with 58 galleries exhibiting,
the region's leading including 14 specialising in the Arab world.
Earlier in the year, Artscape, a new series of informal, cultural
modern and
events was launched in Abu Dhabi with the first Artscape Picasso
contemporary art fair.
held on 28 August 2008 at the Cultural Foundation. English and
Notable works Arabic speakers enjoyed an evening celebrating the work of Pablo
exhibited included Picasso and modern art-related themes in an informal manner
pieces from Alexander through a multi-art form programme, including films, live music,
Calder, Andy Warhol, literature, a live painting studio, art-related games, and an arts lounge.
Damien Hirst, Henri Artparis Abu Dhabi and the Artscape series are organised by Tourism
Matisse, Pablo Picasso Development and Investment Company (TDIC), and supported by
and Paul Cezanne. ADACH. TDIC's public programme is laying the groundwork for
the opening of the Cultural District on Saadiyat Island.
TDIC’s extensive cultural
programme is laying the groundwork
for the opening of the Cultural District
on Saadiyat Island.
 Art Dubai
The 2008 edition of the DIFC-sponsored Art Dubai took place from 19
to 22 March with 37 international and regional galleries exhibiting. As
well as its commercial aspect, Art Dubai endeavours to provide a range
of educational opportunities. The new three-day discussion platform,
DIFC Global Art Forum, also brought an international group of over 40
artists, curators, dealers, museum directors, critics and academics
together for three days to focus on issues affecting art and the arts
community, with the Middle East as a primary focus.
Dubai International DIFC's 'Season of Arts', a celebration of all forms of artistic
Financial Centre’s disciplines, from visual to performing and musical to interactive
‘Season of Arts’is a expression, also took place in March 2008. The 16-day event, which
celebration of all forms coincided with Art Dubai, brought together a selection of diverse
of artistic disciplines, up-and-coming and renowned Middle Eastern and Western artists,
film-makers, musicians, and dancers. The eclectic line-up of events
from visual to
included contemporary art exhibitions, large-scale, interactive
performing and
installations, film screenings and live musical performances. DIFC
musical to interactive
also hosts a series of on-going exhibitions that run independently
expression. throughout the year.

MUSEUMS
The UAE has a wide array of museums, both traditional and modern.
Building on this cultural heritage, Abu Dhabi is investing heavily in
cultural development. Nowhere is this more evident than on Saadiyat
Island, which, as we have already seen, TDIC is transforming into
an international cultural, leisure and residential destination. Saadiyat
 M E D I A & C U LT U R E 283

Island's Cultural District will house the largest single cluster of world-
class cultural assets. These include the Louvre Abu Dhabi, designed
by Jean Nouvel; the Sheikh Zayed National Museum to be designed
by the UK's Foster + Partners under the direction of Lord Norman
Foster; the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi contemporary arts museum, the
world's largest Guggenheim and the only one in the Middle East,
which has been conceptualised by Frank Gehry; a performing arts
centre designed by Zaha Hadid, a maritime museum with concept Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoun
design by Tadao Ando and a number of arts pavilions. Al Nahyan, Chairman of the
ADTA, Bruno Macquart,
A major new museum for the UAE Armed Forces is also being
Director of Agence France-
planned, which will trace the history of weapons and warfare in the Museums, and French Culture
region since prehistoric times. Minister Christine Albanel.
The first of the institutions, the Sheikh Zayed National Museum, the The French Minister was on an
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum and the Louvre Abu Dhabi are official visit to the UAE to
attend the signing of an
scheduled to open between 2012 and 2014. Bruno Maquart, former agreement between
Director of Centre Pompidou, is the Executive Director of the French Agence France-Museums
Museums Agency, which is steering development of the Louvre Abu and the ADTA.
Dhabi. Under a 30-year operating agreement, Abu Dhabi will pay
EUR400 million for the Louvre brand name and for hundreds of
artworks loaned from the Paris museums for periods of between six
months and two years. The agreement also covers a multitude of
operational issues, including individual proposals to theme the
Louvre Abu Dhabi's exhibition halls and guidelines for exhibitions to
be mounted in the museum.
The deal is part of a broader EUR1 billion cooperation agreement
with the French Museums Agency that will see artworks travel from
Paris to the Gulf when the branch opens in 2012. Exhibits will come
from the Louvre and other Paris museums, including the Musée
d'Orsay and the Centre Pompidou. The intention is to not just to focus
on Western art, but to establish a dialogue between West and East,
between North and South.
Concept designs for all the Cultural District assets are currently on
show in a fascinating exhibition that is open daily to the public in
Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace Hotel.

Khor Dubai Project

The Khor Dubai Project, which was launched in March 2008 under the
umbrella of DCAA, will see construction of libraries, theatres, art
galleries, cultural institutes, an opera house and more than ten
thematic museums at sites throughout Dubai. The project will include

@ www.uaeinteract.com/museums
284 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

the world's first museum devoted to the Prophet Mohammed. The

joint public-private sector project will celebrate Dubai's cultural
diversity and showcase the emirate's rich past, dynamic present and
promising future.
Dubai’s first Museum of Middle East Modern Art was announced
in June 2008. Dubai Properties Group (a member of Dubai Holding)
is the developer of the new museum, which has been designed by
world-renowned architects, UN Studio, and of Dubai’s Culture
Village. The latter will be located on 3.716 million square metres of
land in the historic district of Al-Jadaf. In addition to the Museum of
Middle East Modern Art, the Dh50 billion (US$13.6 billion) project
will include an amphitheatre for live performances and international
cultural festivals, an exhibition hall and smaller museums displaying
local and international art, as well as a shipyard for traditional dhow
builders. It will also include residential, commercial and retail zones.

Historic Buildings
ADACH has renewed its efforts to preserve and restore historic
buildings in Al Ain City, a major cultural and tourist destination in
the UAE. The projects include the restoration of Al Jahili Fort, which
dates back to 1898 and is one of the most important historical
landmarks in the city, and the House of Hamad bin Hadi Al Darmaki.
The Fort will host a new visitor information centre, a temporary
exhibition gallery, a permanent exhibition on the explorer, Mubarak
bin London (Sir Wilfred Thesiger), and a walk- through audio-visual
installation on the history and development of Al Ain.
Spearheaded by ADACH, Abu Dhabi’s oldest building is set to
become a cultural heart for the country. Following a multi-million
Al Jahili Fort, Al Ain. dirham makeover, Qasr Al Hosn, also known as the White Fort, will
become a repository and museum, as well as a symbol of the nation.
Dubai’s Architectural Heritage Department, which now falls under
the auspices of the DCAA, is responsible for preserving and maintaining
historic buildings and cultural centres in the emirate, including the
heritage districts in Bastakiya, Shindagha and Al Ra's where a large
number of historic buildings have been successfully restored to their
former glory.
Two new museums, one in Nad Al Sheba dedicated to falcons and
the other in an historic building in Bastakiya showcasing Islamic
 M E D I A & C U LT U R E 285

coins that were in circulation in the region since the time of the
Islamic caliphates, opened in the first half of 2008.
The historical district of Al Shindagha will also be home to the House
A top priority for the
of Poetry, which is being established by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al
new House of Poetry
Maktoum Foundation to promote classical and contemporary Arabic
poetry. It will also facilitate the interaction between Arab poets and will be to promote,
their peers from across the globe and further the role of poetry as an research, and
effective communications tool in the pursuit of intercultural dialogue. A document Nabati
top priority will be to promote, research and document Nabati poetry, poetry, the indigenous
an indigenous form of verse unique to the Gulf region. The House of form of verse unique
Poetry will complement the role and mission of Dubai International to the Gulf region.
Poetry Festival.
The restored Al Fahidi Fort in Dubai is now a thriving interactive
museum with a wide range of archaeological and ethnographic
exhibits. The eighteenth century fort in Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain
Fort, Ra’s al-Khaimah Fort and Fujairah Fort have also been lovingly
restored and turned into fascinating museums.
Sharjah’s renovation and restoration of architecturally acclaimed
heritage buildings and an old souk in the Sharjah Arts Area and
Sharjah Heritage Area have earned it international acclaim. Many of
these fine buildings house art, Islamic and ethnographic museums run
by Sharjah Museums Department, including the country’s first national
art gallery, and one is also home to the Emirates’ Fine Art Society.

Sharjah Museums Department

Sharjah made a number of additions to its already impressive list of
museums in 2008: The Sharjah Islamic Museum, depicting Arab and
Islamic culture through the centuries, was opened at the beginning of
June 2008 with an Islamic Artefacts Exhibition mounted in cooperation
with the Berlin Islamic Museum. The new museum houses more than
5000 exquisite Islamic artefacts from all over the Islamic World,
arranged according to themes over seven spacious galleries and
display areas.
Restored heritage buildings
A Classic Cars Club and Museum housing 120 vintage American are frequently used as
and European cars owned by HH Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed museums.
Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, was
also opened in 2008. So too, was Sharjah Aquarium, which displays
a host of marine species from the smallest clown fish and delicate

@ www.uaeinteract.com/museums
286 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
Sharjah has 17
museums, including
Sharjah Art Museum &
Contemporary Arab
Art, which is the largest
in the Gulf with both
temporary exhibitions
and permanent
collections by
renowned artists.
Archaeological teams have
been active throughout the
UAE in the winter season.
seahorses to moray eels, rays and reef sharks, enabling visitors to
make a journey underwater and discover the smaller marine life found
in the rock pools, coral reefs, lagoons and mangroves of the UAE.
Sharjah already has a fine array of natural history centres: Sharjah
Natural History and Botanical Museum, which opened in 1995,
has since been recently renovated to a very high standard. The
Arabian Wildlife Centre is an impressive modern zoo that displays
local wildlife in their natural habitats. The nearby Breeding Centre,
which is not open to the public, is focusing on the breeding of
endangered Arabian species with the hope of re-introducing some of
the rarer species into the wild. This is where, for the first time in the
UAE, captive breeding of the Arabian leopard was achieved.
ARCHAEOLOGY REVIEW
During the annual archaeology field season in the Emirates, from
autumn 2007 to spring 2008, further new light was shed on the
country's ancient heritage, now known to stretch back to the
Palaeolithic or Early Stone Age period, perhaps over 200,000 years
ago. Fieldwork, undertaken by local departments in each emirate as
well as by visiting academic teams and consultants led to the
identification of many previously unrecorded sites and to the
gathering, through excavation and mapping, of more information
from known sites. This was supplemented by the results of scientific
finds analysis undertaken both locally and at institutions abroad.
New surveys for evidence of occupation from the Palaeolithic
period, only proven to exist a few years ago, were carried out by a
British team in the northern emirate of Ra's al-Khaimah, in
association with the local museum, and identified a number of new
sites along the western foothills of the Hajar Mountains. Further
work was also undertaken at the sites of Jebel Faiyah, in Sharjah,
by a joint German–Sharjah team, and of Jebel Barakah, in western
Abu Dhabi, by ADACH. While dating of the sites has yet to be
finalised, it is evident from the Jebel Faiyah site that there were
several distinct periods of occupation. Still poorly known, the
Palaeolithic period in the UAE is likely to be a major focus of attention
in future years as archaeologists seek to learn more about the country's
oldest inhabitants.
The distribution and nature of sites from the Late Stone Age or
Neolithic period, which began in the Emirates around 7500 years ago,
 M E D I A & C U LT U R E 287

is much better known. By this time, the UAE's inhabitants included Recent archaeological
both nomadic and settled communities, some building extensive excavations have shed
stone houses, as on Abu Dhabi's western island of Marawah, while new light on the
the pearling industry had begun and maritime trade links with Paleolithic or Early
Mesopotamia had been established. Stone Age period in
The relative sophistication of the Neolithic fishing and pearling
the UAE.
industry was the subject of investigations during the last year, at the
fifth millennium BC island site of Akab, in Umm al-Qaiwain. Carried
out by a French team, the work has shown that the site, first
occupied around 4750 BC, was occupied continuously for over 500
years. Its inhabitants had domesticated goats, sheep and dogs, while
they also hunted gazelles and wild donkeys. The main focus of the
economy, however, was on the exploitation of resources from the
nearby lagoon and mangroves, while they also had the skill to build
boats capable of fishing in deeper waters. One interesting discovery
from the latest work was that the Akab people were probably
producing shell beads and fish-hooks not just for their own use but for
trading with other communities in the Gulf. Pottery from Ubaid, in
Mesopotamia, also indicates the extent of their commercial network.
Although the UAE's Neolithic inhabitants had domestic animals, as
shown from finds at Akab and Dalma, for example, they also
hunted wild animals, of which the largest was the camel, which
was not domesticated until the beginning of the Iron Age.
One major discovery announced during the year was that of a
collection of over 60 camel skeletons at a site in Abu Dhabi's
western deserts. Although first identified several years ago, the
skeletons have now been examined in detail by a team from ADACH
and have been dated by the Kiel Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory in
Germany, showing that they are of Neolithic date. Scattered over an
area of more than 100 metres square that was once an ancient
lakebed, the site is the largest discovery of ancient camel bones
anywhere in the Arabian Peninsula. Further study is now under way
to determine whether the camels had died naturally, or if they had
been killed by Neolithic hunters. Circular piece of stone on a
Today, the economy of the UAE depends, to a large extent, on its string used in ancient times
export of oil and gas, which have provided the basis for its industrial as a fishing weight.

development. However, as we have seen in the chapter on History, the

export of raw materials is nothing new. As far back at 3000 BC, or
5000 years ago, at the beginning of the local Bronze Age, copper

@ www.uaeinteract.com/archaeology
288 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
For the first time, a
major copper mining
complex in the UAE is
being subjected to a
detailed study. Situated
in Wadi Hilu, part of
Sharjah, the complex
is being examined
by a joint German-
Sharjah team.
was being mined in the UAE mountains and was being exported to
Mesopotamia. One of the key Bronze Age ports, at Umm al-Nar, close
to Abu Dhabi, was the site of the first archaeological excavations in
1959, or 50 years ago. Now, however, for the first time, a major copper
mining complex is being subjected to a detailed study. Situated in Wadi
Hilu, part of Sharjah, the complex is being examined by a joint
German–Sharjah team. During fieldwork in 2007 and early 2008, one
major find was a large semi-spherical copper ingot, proving that
smelting had taken place at the site, while pottery at the site suggests
a date in the early Bronze Age. The foundations of several buildings are
also present, while there are veins of copper ore in the nearby
hillsides. Further study of the site is likely to add important new
information to knowledge of this earliest of the UAE's industries.
Wadi Hilu, though in the mountains, is close to another Early
Bronze Age settlement, at Kalba, on the UAE's east coast. Studies
of finds found at the settlement during excavations several years
ago, undertaken by an archaeologist from the University of London,
working with the Sharjah Directorate of Archaeology, have shown
that the site was involved in a long distance trading network that
reached from Mesopotamia throughout the Gulf and southern Iran
and away to the Indus Valley, giving an indication of potential
destinations for some of the copper from Wadi Hilu.
The task of identifying, and then excavating archaeological sites is,
of course, only the beginning of a long process of further work, as the
finds from the excavations are carefully studied and analysed. Another
important study undertaken over the last year was an analysis of
cornelian beads found, in profusion, in many of the UAE's collective
graves from the Bronze Age Umm al-Nar period. Focusing on beads
from graves at Hili, in Al Ain, and at Shimal and Dhayah, in Ra's al-
Khaimah, the study, carried out by a doctoral student from the
Sorbonne University in Paris, showed that most of the beads were
produced at workshops in the Indus Valley, from where they were
exported to the UAE and Oman – adding further information on the
types of goods involved in the regional trade network of the time.
Moving on from the Bronze Age, a further season of work was
undertaken at the important Iron Age fortified settlement at Muwailah,
near Sharjah International Airport. Carried out by a team from Bryn
Mawr College in the United States, in association with the Sharjah
Directorate, the latest work has confirmed the extensive commercial
 M E D I A & C U LT U R E 289

contacts maintained by Muwailah's inhabitants, and also helped to A further season of

clarify the rapid growth of the settlement in a relatively short space work was undertaken
of time, helping to explain the chronology of Iron Age settlement at the important Iron
throughout south-eastern Arabia. Age fortified
Preliminary investigation of another Iron Age settlement was also settlement in
undertaken at Wadi Madhab, in Fujairah, by a British team. The
Muwailah, Sharjah by a
team also examined and recorded several dozen pre-Islamic graves
team from the US and
and pottery from the mid-Islamic period, which has previously been
preliminary
found only rarely on the UAE's east coast. Further results from this
work can be expected in future years, but the work at Madhab is, investigation of
perhaps, more significant for another reason. The initial survey of the another Iron Age
wadi that led to the identification of the sites was commissioned by a settlement was
property development company as part of an initial Environmental undertaken at Wadi
Impact Assessment of the area, prior to commencing development. Madhab in Fujairah
Realising the potential significance of the discoveries, the developer by a British team.
then financed a month-long further study of key features of the site,
the first time that a commercial developer in the UAE has ever
funded the excavation of archaeological sites in an area planned for
development. With this precedent having been set, it is hoped that
other private companies will follow suit in the years ahead.
Government-controlled bodies, like Abu Dhabi's Dolphin Energy and
the Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations (Adco) have,
however, provided extensive support for archaeological work in their
area of operations for several years.
Other surveys carried out throughout the country have continued
to identify previously unrecorded archaeological sites, showing that,
even after 50 years of work, there is still much to be discovered.
One group of finds of particular significance was a series of several
large, well-built stone villages in the mountains of Ra's al-Khaimah,
dating to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The villages
are located near coastal palm groves, yet situated to allow them to be
easily defended, perhaps an indication of a period of political instability.
As usual, the programme for the thirty-ninth annual Seminar
for Arabian Studies, held at the British Museum in London in July, Early Islamic gold coin.
included a number of papers on topics related to UAE archaeology,
covering both the place of the Emirates within a regional context
and the results of individual excavation seasons. Papers presented
will be published in 2009 in the Proceedings of the Seminar for
Arabian Studies (www.arabianseminar.org.uk).

@ www.uaeinteract.com/archaeology
 An Iron Age figurine of The fifth in an annual series of symposia organised in Al Ain in
a camel, from Muwailah, April by the Zayed Centre for Heritage and History, part of the Emirates
in Sharjah.
Heritage Club, (www.zayedcenter.org.ae) gave local and visiting
archaeologists the opportunity to present results from their 2007/08
work to colleagues and other interested parties, while two other
conferences were held in November, that of the Archaeozoologists
The fifth in an annual of Southwest Asia – International Council for Archaeozoology
series of symposia (ASWA-ICAZ) in Al Ain, and another on ‘New Perspectives in Recording
organised in Al Ain by UAE History’, organised by the Centre for Documentation and Research
the Zayed Centre for in Abu Dhabi.
Heritage and History In addition, two major new books on the archaeology of the
gave archaeologists Emirates were published during 2008. The first, The Natural
the opportunity to Environment of Jebel al-Buhais: Past and Present, is the second in a
present results from series of the archaeology of Jebel al-Buhais, in the Emirate of
their 2007/08 work. Sharjah, an area best known for its major Neolithic (Late Stone Age)
cemetery, but also including sites from the Bronze and Iron Ages.
The second, Emirates Heritage Volume 2, is the proceedings of the
second annual archaeological symposium held by the Zayed Centre
for Heritage and History, in 2004 and of a symposium on UAE
history also held that year. Papers on UAE archaeology were also
published in a number of academic journals, including Arabian
Archaeology and Epigraphy and the locally produced Tribulus, journal
of the Emirates Natural History Group.
E N V I R ONMENT & WILDLIFE

Government organisations and NGOs

continue to promote the conservation
of the UAE’s marine and terrestrial
habitats and the fauna and flora that
live within them.
Over the course of the past year, long-term
environmental sustainability strategies have
been launched and plans have drawn up for
a wider network of protected areas.
 293

ENVIRONMENT & WILDLIFE

DURING THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR, EFFORTS by government, non-
governmental organisations and by private individuals to promote
the conservation of the UAE's marine and terrestrial habitats, and
the fauna and flora that live within them have continued to grow,
to meet the increasing challenges faced by the country's rapid
programme of development.
These efforts have covered a wide variety of areas. One focus has
been on the implementation of a tighter regulatory regime on industrial
and other development activities that have an impact not only on
the environment and wildlife but also on the country's human
population. Long-term environmental sustainability strategies have
been launched, plans have been drawn up for a wider, and much
larger, network of protected areas and there has also been a
continuing programme of detailed scientific research.
One much-welcomed measure in terms of regulation was the
introduction of tight controls over the country's quarrying industry.
Largely situated in the mountain areas of Ra's al-Khaimah and
Fujairah, the quarries produce the rock and gravel used for major
construction industry projects in the coastal areas, in particular in
Dubai. Besides their direct impact on the mountain environment
and its fauna and flora, the quarries also produce large quantities of
dust that threaten the health of nearby towns and villages.
New regulations introduced by the Ministry of Environment and
Water cover air quality guidelines, noise, health and safety practices
and the impact on the environment of areas adjacent to quarry sites
and their associated rock crushers. They also give government
authorities the power to order quarries to cease work during periods
when atmospheric conditions are likely to cause dust to remain
suspended in the air, threatening human health. Work close to
villages and towns will only be permitted during the day while
tighter controls have also been imposed on the use of explosives.
Of the 80 or so quarries currently operating, a few, largely managed
by international companies, are already meeting, or nearly meeting,
the new guidelines, but over three quarters of the quarries will need
to improve their performance substantially or will be closed down.

@ www.uaeinteract.com/environmentandwildlife
294 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
A major initiative
during the year was the
launching by EAD of
the Abu Dhabi
Environment Strategy
2008–2012.
For the first time ever,
EAD has successfully
satellite tracked a
single adult Sooty
falcon to its wintering
areas in Madagascar.
Another major initiative during the year was the launching by
the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) of the Abu Dhabi
Environment Strategy 2008–2012, which lays down the environmental
policy agenda for the next five years. Developed through a wide
process of consultation with major stakeholders, the strategy sets a
benchmark for monitoring changes over time, outlines the long-term
vision, mission and goal of the emirate in terms of environmental
policy and provides an action plan for the future. Two and five
year targets have been identified for ten priority areas, including
environmental sustainability, water resource management, air
quality, hazardous materials and waste management, biodiversity
management, environmental awareness, an environmental health
and safety management system, and management of emergencies.
Introducing the strategy, EAD's managing director, Mohammed Al
Bowardi, who is also secretary-general of the Abu Dhabi Executive
Council, described it as being:
. . . our roadmap to a future in which everyone will be able to enjoy the
benefit of a clean, safe and healthy environment.
Our challenge is that many still live an unsustainable lifestyle. They
believe it is more convenient to postpone concern for environmental
problems to a later date. But we cannot wait for a later date. We need to be
strategic and act today because our environment is under pressure from a
number of different directions at once.
The generation that destroys the environment may not be the one
that pays the price. It is the future generations that will confront the
consequences. Achieving Sustainable Development in our Emirate will take
patience, commitment and persistence. It has to become a conscious and
deliberate pursuit to change our mindset. It will not happen overnight.
As the country's development programme occupies an ever-growing
proportion of the UAE's land, so too is a larger proportion of the
country's territory now being scheduled for protection as national
parks. In Abu Dhabi, which already has several thousand square
kilometres of protected areas, both onshore and in shallow coastal
waters, EAD was finalising plans at the end of the year for the formal
designation of new areas that will more than double the amount of
land and sea being protected in the emirate. Much is in the southern
and western deserts, but another area being considered for formal
protection is that of the mangroves and adjacent mudflats and
As the country’s development
programme expands, so too is a
larger proportion of the country’s
territory now being scheduled for
protection as national parks.
296 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
In November 2008,
EAD announced that it
had entered into a ten-
year strategic
partnership with the
U.S-based research and
technical services firm
RTI International to
assist the Emirate of
Abu Dhabi in
enhancing its existing
environmental
protection
programmes.
channels just to the east of Abu Dhabi Island. An important habitat for
breeding fish and for birds, in particular, it is being proposed as the
first of one of five new National Parks under the Abu Dhabi 2030
Strategic Plan.
In the northern emirates of Sharjah, Ra's al-Khaimah and Fujairah,
areas of the Hajar Mountains are also being prepared for designation
as protected areas, an important step, since the mountains are home
to much of the UAE's endangered wildlife and provide key habitats.
Large areas of Dubai's deserts are now also formally protected,
although virtually the entire coastal zone of that emirate has now
been irrevocably altered by development. That is not always a
completely negative factor, however. For the first time in 2008, three
species of seabirds were recorded breeding in Dubai, on undeveloped
offshore islets that are part of The World project, and plans are
now being proposed to set aside islets specifically to encourage
further breeding.
With conservation of endangered species of wildlife continuing to
be a focus of the UAE's environmental policy, Al Ain Zoo, founded
in 1967 and the largest in the Middle East, has now completed the
initial phases of a major overhaul, including not only substantial
improvements in terms of visitor facilities but also a better standard
of care for the more than 4000 individual mammals, birds and reptiles
in its collection. One new focus has been on the endangered species
of arid zones, both in Arabia and Africa.
Another major initiative during the year was the launching by EAD
of its Environmental Sustainability Report, the first public sector
report of its kind in the Arab world. Drawn up in association with other
government bodies and public sector organisations, including the oil
and gas industry, and based on the world's most widely accepted
guidelines for sustainability reporting, the Global Reporting Initiative's
G3 Guidelines, the document is an important step in helping EAD to
meet various aspects of its sustainability strategy.
One of the major steps taken by EAD as part of the strategy
outlined in the report will be the promotion and implementation, in
co-ordination with other stakeholders, of an integrated Environment,
Health and Safety Management System within three years, to link
all factors related to economic growth, environmental protection,
health and safety of workers, and community health. A new Abu
Dhabi Sustainability Excellence Group (SEG) with representatives of
Conservation of endangered
species of wildlife continues to be
a major focus of the UAE’s
environmental policy.
 The formation of a new Mohammed bin
Zayed Species Conservation Fund, which
will have an initial endowment of Dh125
million, was announced in October 2008.
 ENVIRONMENT & WILDLIFE 299

the major sectors in Abu Dhabi, including oil and gas, real estate and The Dubai Desert
construction, large private companies and the banking sector, will Conservation Reserve
work to share best practices throughout Abu Dhabi. (DDCR) has been
Recognising that conservation programmes can only be truly accepted as an official
successful if they are multinational, the UAE was co-organiser, member of the
along with the UK, of an international conference in Abu Dhabi International Union
in late October at which a new multinational Memorandum of for Conservation of
Understanding (MoU) was signed by 28 countries on conservation of
Nature (IUCN). The
birds of prey in Africa, Europe and Asia. The formation of a new
achievement marks
Mohammed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund was also announced
the DDCR as the
in October. With an initial endowment of Dh125 million (US$34
first wildlife and
million) provided by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed
conservation area in
bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the fund will provide grants for small-scale
projects throughout the world that are aimed at protecting individual the UAE to be formally
endangered species (www.mbzspeciesconservation.org). declared by IUCN as a
Scientific research into aspects of the country's environment has Protected Area.
continued to yield good results, with work being undertaken by
government agencies such as EAD, the Environment and Protected
Areas Authority (EPAA) in Sharjah and the Environment Protection
and Industrial Development Commission of Ra's al-Khaimah, non-
governmental organisations such as the Emirates Wildlife Society and
the Emirates Bird Records Committee and independent observers.
During 2008, for example, three new species were added to the
UAE Bird List, bringing the total to 444, a remarkable number for such
a small and arid country, while several species of reptiles, insects and
molluscs new to the country were also identified. It is probable that
there is much more that remains to be discovered, as investigations
of the UAE's remarkable biodiversity continue.
One important initiative was the signing in February of a MoU
between EAD and the Emirates Bird Records Committee (EBRC)
under which the agency will maintain the EBRC database of nearly a
quarter of a million records of wild birds seen throughout in the UAE
since the late 1960s. To be continually updated with the addition
of new records, this will provide EAD with one of the most extensive
national databases of wild bird records in the Arabian Peninsula.
The two will also collaborate on the preparation of the official
national checklist of birds, in accordance with internationally
accepted standards.

@ www.uaeinteract.com/environmentandwildlife
New species are being The value of scientific research is, of course, fully realised only when
discovered in the UAE results are published, and several important new books on aspects
as the country seeks to of the UAE's natural history have been published during the year.
find a sustainable Leading the way has been EAD, which launched two major publications
balance between in October, Marine Environment and Resources of Abu Dhabi and
Terrestrial Environment of Abu Dhabi, as well as a more specialist
development,
publication on marine phyto-plankton of the Gulf. An EAD-sponsored
conservation and
book on the UAE's breeding birds was nearing completion at the end
protection of its
of the year, whilst the long-awaited Arabic edition of The Emirates: A
biodiversity. Natural History will be launched in March 2009.
Another major work, volume one of Arthropod Fauna of the UAE,
represents the first results of a detailed examination of the UAE's
insects, adding several hundred species to the UAE national list,
including nearly 90 species that had never previously been identified
anywhere and were new to science.
Further discoveries are regularly made, as the UAE seeks to find
a sustainable balance between development, conservation and
protection of its biodiversity.
 S P ORTS & LEISURE

Sheikha Maitha holds the UAE flag as

she leads the UAE team into the stadium
for the opening ceremony of the
twenty-ninth Olympic Games in Beijing.
Emirati players celebrate after beating
Uzbekistan 2–1 in their AFC Under-19
Championship final football match in
Dammam, Saudi Arabia on 14
November 2008.
 303

SPORTS & LEISURE

INVESTMENT IN SPORTING ACTIVITIES AND OUTDOOR PURSUITS is not only an
important component of the UAE’s strategy to attract visitors
to its shores, it also features strongly in efforts to promote the
country abroad.
The UAE has already established itself on the international sporting
stage, hosting many of the world’s major events in a wide range of
sports, from horse racing to motor racing, golf, tennis, football, rugby,
cricket, sailing, powerboat racing and almost every other competitive
sport. These events not only attract large numbers of competitors
and sports enthusiasts from around the globe to the UAE, they also
see some of the country’s own top sportsmen and women in action.
Sporting facilities in the UAE, already some of the best in the world,
are being constantly upgraded, whilst massive new schemes, such as
Dubai Sport City and Abu Dhabi Sports City, are under construction.
Aside from the international circuit events, the UAE has a healthy UAE rally champion
indigenous sporting environment with the local community taking Mohammed bin Sulayem
part in a wide variety of sporting activities. Teams from throughout and Pavel Annenkov of
Kazakhstan at the ceremonial
the seven emirates regularly compete in national leagues and cups
start of the UAE Desert
in a multiplicity of sports that are controlled by specialised governing Challenge Rally in Abu Dhabi
bodies. Top sporting venues (both indoor and outdoor) along with a on 27 October 2008.
favourable climate ensure that the activities continue throughout the
winter season. New sporting bodies, such as the Abu Dhabi Sports
Council, have been established to coordinate growth and development
of local and national sports clubs. Their objective is to build a healthy
society and at the same time nurture local sporting talent. Abu Dhabi
Sports Council has also agreed to provide increased financial backing
and financial incentives for sports clubs that are keen to promote
international competitive standards.
Sports are also played at a social level and residents are able to take
full advantage of the country’s parks and recreational grounds where
football, basketball and cricket matches are a favourite pastime,
while the desert and mountain areas outside the main cities provide
rough, rugged terrain for more adventurous pursuits.

@ www.uaeinteract.com/sports
304 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
Motorsports with its singular
global reach readily
attracts sponsorship.
Etihad Airways won the
'European Sponsorship
of the Year' award in
the European
Sponsorship
Association’s business
to consumer category
for its imaginative
sponsorship of GAA
hurling in Ireland.
With the Arabian Gulf on its western shores and the Indian
Ocean along its eastern flanks, the UAE is particularly attractive
for watersports’ fans. Those living on the Gulf coast are blessed
with long stretches of sandy beach where residents take part in
sports such as sailing, jet-skiing, surfing, swimming and kitesurfing.
Snorkelling and diving are hugely popular within the region. Many
residents and visitors enjoy the UAE’s east coast, which also provides a
wealth of exotic fish and coral.
Sport Sponsorship
International sport sponsorship, considered to be very effective
brand advertising, has been used to great effect by UAE companies
and government bodies, serving not only to further brand
awareness but also to bring the UAE to audiences around the world.
Motorsports, with its singular global reach, is a particularly popular
sport for sponsorship. Since 2007, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA)
has had a three-year partnership with the highly successful BP-Ford
World Rally Team, which includes Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi as a
driver. The addition of world rallying to Abu Dhabi’s motorsports’
portfolio demonstrates the emirate’s pledge to become one of the
world centres of motorsport excellence.
In 2008, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways signed a three-year
sponsorship deal with the Ferrari F1 team, the current Formula One
world championship holders. Ferrari is developing a close association
with Abu Dhabi, through the exciting new theme park being built on
Yas Island, home to the capital’s new F1 race track.
Etihad had already signed a three-year deal in December 2007 to
become the title sponsor of the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix,
starting with the inaugural event on Yas Island in 2009. Under the
deal, the F1 race will be named the Formula One Etihad Airways Abu
Dhabi Grand Prix until 2011.
Etihad Airways’ involvement with the Ferrari F1 team is one of a
growing number of high-profile sports sponsorships for the national
airline and complements existing partnerships with Chelsea
Football Club, Harlequins Rugby Football Club, the All Ireland Hurling
Championships and the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.
Etihad began a partnership with Chelsea in September 2007
that has seen the airline host the inaugural Chelsea Soccer Schools
in February 2008, as well as bringing current and former players out
to the UAE’s capital to host football clinics.
Etihad has also extended its growing array of international sports Visitors examine a model of
sponsorships to Australia in a five-year deal which includes the the Formula One Yas Island
circuit at an exhibition in
renaming of the famous Telstra Dome in Melbourne as the Etihad Abu Dhabi.
Stadium. The deal comes into effect on 1 March 2009, the start of
the Australian Football League (AFL) season.
Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG), controlled by HH Sheikh Mansour
bin Zayed Al Nahyan, purchased UK’s Manchester City Football Club in The UAE's Ahmed Khalil
receiving the Asian Football
September 2008, a move that has brought a considerable amount of Confederation 'Youth Player of
attention to the emirate. The team’s signing hours later of Robinho, the Year' award in Shanghai
a Brazilian world star from Real Madrid, for GB£32.5 million kept on 25 November 2008.
the emirate in the headlines and underlined ADUG’s commitment to
make Manchester City the biggest club in the Premier League.
Further major signings were being considered at the end of the year.
Dubai-based Emirates airline is FIFA's official partner until
2014. Other key football sponsorships by Emirates include its much-
vaunted GB£100 million deal with Arsenal Football Club and
sponsorship deals with Paris Saint Germain Football Club, Hamburger
SV and AC Milan, The airline also announced in September 2008 that it
had signed a three-year sponsorship deal with the successful Greek
club, Olympiacos FC. The deal, covering the current season with
options to extend the partnership for a further two years, will see the
familiar Fly Emirates sign displayed at the Karaiskaki Stadium, the
home of Olympiacos.
Emirates also backed the New Zealand entry and runner-up in the
thirty-second America’s Cup, the world’s most famous yacht race. In

@ www.uaeinteract.com/sports
 UAE’s Omar Juma Al Salfa
competes in the men's first-
round 200 metre race, heat 7
at the 'Bird's Nest' National
Stadium during the 2008
Beijing Olympic Games.
Mohammed Salem Abdulla
Zahmi of UAE stands on the
podium after winning the
70 kg beach body building
competition at the 2008
Asian Beach Games in Bali.
addition, Emirates sponsors a wide range of sporting activities around
the world, including horseracing, cricket, tennis, rugby, powerboat
racing and golf. Emirates was also instrumental in bringing the
IRB Rugby Sevens World Cup 2009 to Dubai and is the principal
sponsor of the event, which will be held at The Sevens, Emirates'
new state-of-the-art sports venue in Dubai.
UAE Olympic Team
Nine UAE athletes were proud to represent their country in the twenty-
ninth Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008, pitching themselves against
world-class sportsmen and women from over 200 countries.
Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum took part in
the women’s 67kg taekwondo event. A recipient of ‘Best Arab Athlete’
in 2006 and winner of the UAE's ‘Best Female Sportsperson’ award for
two consecutive years, Sheikha Maitha was also the obvious choice
to hoist the UAE's flag at the opening ceremony. Moreover, Sheikha
Maitha had created history as the first Emirati woman to win an
international gold medal when she received first place in the
+65kg category at the tenth Pan Arab Games in 2004, repeating
her outstanding performance the following year. Amongst other
achievements, Sheikha Maitha was awarded a silver medal in the
+60kg category during the 2006 Doha Asian Games. She is also the
Arab, Asian and European champion in karate, kickboxing and
taekwondo and the honorary President of the UAE Karate and
Taekwondo Federation.
 SPORTS & LEISURE 307

Sheikh Ahmed Mohammad Hasher Al Maktoum achieved fame as

the UAE's first Olympic medallist, winning gold at the Athens Olympics
in the double trap shooting event. Sheikh Ahmed has also won gold
medals at the 2003 and 2004 World Cups, as well as the World
Shooting Championships in 2005, which was an Olympic qualifying
event. He is the Athlete Ambassador for the humanitarian organisation
‘Right to Play International’, which brings sport and play to the lives
of children affected by war, poverty and disease.
Sheikh Saeed competes in the
Sheikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum is the Asian and Arab men's skeet shooting
Champion in skeet shooting and the patron of the national skeet qualification event at the
shooting team. Sheikh Saeed won a bronze medal in the eleventh Beijing Shooting Range Hall
during the Olympic Games.
Asian Championship, held in Kuwait in 2007, which was an Olympic
qualifying event. He also took silver at the Doha Asian Games in 2006
and gold in both the individual and the team events in the tenth
Gulf Championships in Kuwait in 2007. In February 2008 Sheikh
Saeed and his team-mates were awarded gold medals at the Asian
Championships in India.
Sheikha Latifa bint Ahmed bin Maktoum Al Maktoum qualified for
the Beijing Olympics following her win in the individual qualifying
event at the seventh Qatar International Show Jumping Championships
on her horse, Kalaska de Semilly. At the Asian Games in 2006, she Sheikh Ahmed competes in
came away with a bronze medal as part of the UAE team. She was the men's trap qualification
shooting event held at the
also a gold medallist in the 2007 Sharjah International Jumping Beijing Shooting Range Hall
Championship. during Day 2 of the 2008
Saeed Rashed Al Qubaisi made history in Beijing as the first Emirati Beijing Olympic Games.
to represent the country in judo at the Olympics, competing in the
73kg category for men. 2007 was a particularly good year for Qubaisi
as he claimed the gold medal at both the GCC Youth Championship
and the Arab Championship.
Adel Khaled Abdul Ghafar competed in dinghy sailing (laser class) at
Beijing, having won a silver medal in the GCC Championship in
2007 and gold in the both the European Championship and the Pan
Arab Games in 2007 for the same event.
Obaid Ahmed Al Jasimi participated in the 100 metre swimming
freestyle competitions, for which he has previously won gold at the
2005 and 2006 GCC Championships. Al Jasmi has also received awards
in other swimming competitions, most recently the gold medal in the
100 metre medley in the GCC Championships in 2007.

@ www.uaeinteract.com/sports
308 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
UAE national football team
line-up during the 2010 FIFA
World Cup qualifier match
between South Korea and the
UAE at Seoul World Cup
Stadium on 15 October.
Iran's defender Sattar Zare
(back) stands alert as Emirati
striker Ismail Matar controls
the ball during their Asian
zone Group 2 World
Cup qualifying football
match in Dubai on 19
November 2008. The match
ended in a 1–1 draw.
Ali Obaid Shirook competed in the 400 metre and 400 metre
hurdles. In the West Asian Games, hosted by Doha in 2005, he had
won a bronze medal in both the 400 metre and the 400 metre
relays. In 2007, Shirook took bronze in the 400 metre hurdle event
at the Pan Arab Games in Egypt and silver in the fifteenth Arab
Games in Jordan. Omar Juma Bilal Al Salfa is a talented sportsman
and a rising star on the UAE's athletics scene, having won three gold
medals in 2008 for the 100 metre event at the UAE National
Championship and the UAE President Cup and the 200 metre event
at the Youth Asian Championship.
Although none of the UAE participants came away from the
Olympics with medals, they did their best for their country and work
is now under way to prepare for the next Olympics in London. Sheikh
Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, an award-winning
sportsman in his own right, was elected in September 2008 for a four-
year term as President of the National Olympic Committee (NOC).
Football
Like any other sporting nation, the UAE has a huge interest in football.
The UAE FA was first established in 1971 and since then has dedicated
its time and effort to promoting the game, organising youth
programmes and improving the abilities of not only its players, but of
the officials and coaches involved with its regional and national teams.
The UAE was host to the eighteenth Gulf Cup in January 2007 and it
proved to be a momentous occasion as the national team managed
to pull off one of its biggest achievements in football, beating Oman
1–0 to win the coveted cup for the first time in its 35-year history.
However, in 2008 the UAE’s participation in the Asian World Cup
final round qualifiers was not so successful. The UAE team hopes to
feature more prominently in the lead up to the 2011 Asian Cup in which
they were drawn in group C alongside Uzbekistan, Malaysia and India.
In the meantime, the UAE defeated an opposing bid from Australia to
stage the FIFA Club World Cup in 2009 and 2010, a testament to the
quality of sporting infrastructure in the country, particularly the
stadiums at Zayed Sports City and the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium,
home to Al Jazira Football Club. The UAE’s successful hosting of the
2003 FIFA Youth World Championship and the 2007 Gulf Cup proved
that the country has the necessary experience.
 SPORTS & LEISURE 309

At home, clubs are adopting a new professional ethos and a new Pro
League, the UAE’s first-ever professional season, kicked off on 14
September 2008 with the Super Cup match between league champions
Al Shabab and President’s cup winners Al Ahli. The 12-team Pro-
League commenced on 19 September. Another division will be added
to the league for the 2009/10 season.
Khalfan Al Rumaithi, who was elected president of the UAE FA for a
four-year term on 28 May 2008 following the first ever elections to the
UAE FA, has commented that despite the challenges ahead the UAE FA
is committed to taking the game to a new level. In particular, the FA
would like to see more games being played, national companies
sponsoring local teams, UAE TV stations broadcasting games, and UAE cricketer Anjad Ali jumps
an increase in support by fans. Already, International Petroleum in the air to receive a throw as
Investment Company (IPIC) and Borealis have signed a three-season Sri Lanka cricketer Chamara
Silva reaches his crease during
sponsorship deal worth Dh30 million with Al Jazira.
a Group A match between Sri
The skills of future UAE players could certainly be enhanced by Lanka and the UAE for the
the signing of an agreement in May 2008 between Inter Milan, Asia Cup at Gaddafi Stadium
the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and UAE real estate developer Hydra in Lahore on 26 June 2008.

Properties to build the only Inter Milan football academy in the region
in Abu Dhabi. The academy, which will be open to children between
the ages of nine and 14 years, will be based in Hydra City and will
house a stadium to be built and sponsored solely by Hydra Properties.
Young soccer players from all UAE clubs will have the opportunity to
go to Inter Milan for part of their training.
The UAE under-16 soccer team has already made history by
qualifying for the 2009 FIFA World Cup finals following its defeat of
Australia 3–2 in the Asian under-16 championship quarterfinals.

Cricket
Cricket is another very popular sport in the UAE with events being
organised throughout the Emirates. Sporting bodies such as Abu Dhabi
Cricket Council, Dubai Cricket Council (DCC) Ajman and Sharjah
Cricket Council, under the auspices of the Emirates Cricket Council,
foster and encourage the development of the sport.
The magnificent new Zayed International Cricket Stadium, which
was opened in 2006 in Abu Dhabi, was the venue for the three-match,
one-day international series played between Pakistan and West
Indies on 12, 14 and 16 November in which Pakistan took the honours.

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310 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
UAE cricketers celebrate
during the Group A match
between Sri Lanka and the
UAE for the Asia Cup at
Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore.
The West Indians were playing for the first time in Abu Dhabi, but
India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have all played international cricket
here before.
The impressive new Cricket Stadium being built at Dubai Sports City
will be ready by February 2009. Meanwhile, in September 2008 the
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that they have signed a US$9
million three-year deal to play international one day and twenty20
matches in Dubai starting with a triangular series in April 2009.
Sharjah already has a world-class stadium and has hosted a number
of one-day events and Ajman Cricket Council are planning to build
new cricket grounds, including an international standard turf wicket.
Indeed the Emirates has the best cricket facilities of any Associate
member of the International Cricket Conference, putting many Test-
playing countries to shame. Due to the massive expatriate workforce,
as well as the success of the Sharjah Cup, which put the Emirates on
the global sport map in the 1980s and 1990s, cricket has a keen
following in the country and the UAE team has been the most
successful Asian country outside of the four Test sides on the field,
There is no lack of talent, either, as proven by the performances of
players like Zahid Shah, Mohammed Tauqir, Khurram Khan and
Amjad Ali at the Asia Cup, although the team itself was unsuccessful.
Efforts are now being made to turn the team into a genuinely
competitive force. Emiratis – indeed, full-time homegrown players
of any nationality – are considered to be the key to progression of the
game and competition at international level, and the UAE has
committed to picking a quota of four Emirati players in every squad. At
the same time, Emirates Cricket Board is setting up scholarship
schemes for talented youngsters.
Tennis
Plans to nurture a UAE tennis champion are being supported by
Tennis Emirates, the governing body for the sport in the UAE.
Training programmes have been established and in the next ten
to 15 years, the UAE hopes to develop players of international
standard. Tournaments, such as the annual Tennis Championship at
Abu Dhabi International Tennis Complex, part of Zayed Sports City,
are staged throughout the UAE with the aim of seeking out both
new and undernourished talent.
 SPORTS & LEISURE 311

In the meantime, the UAE consistently attracts the leading tennis

players in the world to compete in international tournaments staged
here. Dubai Duty Free first hosted the men's tournament in 1993, and
since then the competition has grown to be one of the most popular
events on the ATP Tour. For the past five years former world number
one Roger Federer has dominated, winning four in-a-row. On the
women's side, the now-retired Justine Henin also won the singles
crown four times. However, in 2008, neither player managed to
reach the finals with American Andy Roddick taking his debut title Elena Dementieva of Russia
in the Gulf region, while Russian Elena Dementieva became the receives the trophy after
defeating Svetlana
new champion in the women's tournament.
Kuznetsova of Russia in the
2009 will see several changes with the ATP and WTA moving in to final of the WTA Barclays
restructure both the men's and women's competitions. Having run Dubai Tennis Championships
as an ATP International Series Gold event from 1998, the men's at the Dubai Tennis Stadium
on 1 March 2008.
tournament will be one of the ten '500' status tournaments on tour,
while the women's competition will change from a WTA Tier II
tournament to one of the 15 'Premier' events. Dubai will be joined
by Rotterdam, Acapulco, Memphis, Barcelona, Washington DC, Beijing,
Tokyo, Basel and Valencia for the new-look 2009 ATP Tour.

Camel Racing
The inhabitants of Gulf states have enjoyed a long and productive Robotic jockeys have
relationship with the camel, which is held in great admiration and replaced human
respect. Formalising camel racing was one way of maintaining its jockeys in camel races
central role in UAE life. Through camel racing, the UAE has been able in the UAE.
to maintain the symbolic significance of the camel and, by giving
it structure, has developed it into a professional sport with significant
prize money. Camel racing is also a big tourist attraction throughout
the winter months.
The UAE now has no less than 15 racetracks across the Emirates.
Nad Al Sheba, 10 kilometres outside of Dubai, Al Wathba, 30
kilometres south-east of Abu Dhabi, and Al Ain track, which is 20
kilometres west of Al Ain, are all large, well-equipped camel tracks
with high-tech facilities. Two smaller tracks are located in Sharjah,
one in Ra’s al-Khaimah and one in Umm al-Qaiwain. Others are
spread throughout the desert areas.
Even though camel racing has become a popular pastime in the
UAE, it has not been without controversy. Particularly worrying were
allegations that young expatriate jockeys from south Asia and Africa

@ www.uaeinteract.com/sports
312 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
Mohammed bin
Sulayem was elected
to the FIA World Motor
Sport Council in
November 2008, the
first Arab to achieve
this honour. He was
also named as Vice-
President of the FIA for
Sport by the Federation
Internationale de
l'Automobile.
UAE driver Yahya Al Helei and
his co-driver Khalid Al Kendi
drive their Nissan Patrol
during preliminary super
stage action in Dubai before
the official start of the UAE
Desert Challenge Rally.
were being kidnapped or, indeed, sold by their parents, and smuggled
into the country. In 2005 the UAE took measures to clarify the
prohibition on underage jockeys and improve enforcement of the law.
Anyone caught using a jockey under the age of 18 or a jockey that is
less than 45 kilograms in weight faces a Dh50,000 (US$13,620)
fine or a three-year jail sentence, with the penalties being doubled
in the case of repeated offences. With the assistance of Unicef, young
camel jockeys have been repatriated to their home countries and
given assistance with reintegration into their local communities.
Motor Sports
The UAE has a busy international motor sports’ calendar orchestrated
by the very active Automobile and Touring Club (ATCUAE). The motor
year commences with the Abu Dhabi Classic, the FIA Historic Rally
Championship in Abu Dhabi, a championship series that expanded
from Europe into the Middle East for the first time in January 2007.
The gruelling UAE Desert Challenge concludes the FIA Cross Country
Rally World Cup for cars and trucks, and the FIM Cross Country
Rally’s World Championship for bikes later in October, whilst the
Dubai International Rally rounds off the hotly contested FIA Middle
East Rally Championship in November.
The UAE Desert Challenge was conceived by Mohammed bin
Sulayem, President of ATCUAE, whose motorsport career goes back
to the early 1980s. Bin Sulayem, who has a record 14 FIA titles to his
name, is well qualified in his role having very considerable experience
as a competitor and an organiser, together with unparalleled knowledge
of the desert.
The seventeenth edition of the UAE Desert Challenge, commencing
at Emirates Palace Hotel on 28 October 2008 and ending in Dubai on 2
November, fielded a mighty line-up of cars, bikes and trucks from the
Middle East and overseas, an entry list featuring 120 drivers, co-drivers
and riders from over 30 countries. The absence of some big names due
to the credit crunch and the re-scheduling of the Dakar Rally did not
put a damper on this year’s event, which saw Qatar’s Nasser Al
Attiyah become the first Arab driver for 15 years to win the cross-
country crown, while French rider Cyril Despres scored his fifth
bikes title triumph.
The UAE National Rally Championship, organised by the Emirates
Motor Sports Federation (EMSF), features six rounds throughout the
Emirates, split into Desert and Saloon events. Sheikh Abdullah Al
Qasimi and co-driver Wael Marjan drove off with the prestigious Abu Spanish motorcyclist Marc
Dhabi Rally title in April 2008, round 4 of the National Championship Coma sits on his 690cc KTM
Rally bike at the ceremonial
and round 2 in the Saloon Class. Sheikh Abdullah, who finished start of the UAE Desert
second to his brother Sheikh Khalid in 2007 in Abu Dhabi, leads the Challenge Rally in Abu Dhabi
Saloon Class having also triumphed in the Sharjah Rally. on 27 October 2008.
As already mentioned, Sheikh Khalid plays a primary role in Abu
Dhabi Tourism Authority’s one-year-old partnership with the BP-Ford
World Rally Team, which features strongly in the 15-event FIA World
Rally Championship series.
A wide array of national and international track motor sports’
competitions are held at venues such as Dubai Autodrome, including
the relatively new Speedcar Series, in which drivers from various
fields of motor racing, including former F1 drivers, battle it out for the
prize pot of US$3 million.
However, the real Formula One is set to take the UAE by storm. As
already outlined in the chapter on Infrastructure, Abu Dhabi’s new
world-class F1 track is rapidly taking shape on Yas Island. An
extraordinary meeting of the International Automobile Federation's
(FIA) World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) held in Paris in October 2008
confirmed the provisional date of 15 November 2009 for the highly
anticipated Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to be held at the
venue. Abu Dhabi will now be the host for the grand finale of the 18-
race calendar, which kicks off with the Australian GP on 29 March 2009.
The recently formed Abu Dhabi Motor Sport Management, headed
by internationally renowned F1 authority Philippe Gurdjian will develop
and manage F1 in the UAE.

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314 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
Rory McIlroy of Northern
Ireland hits a shot from the
helipad atop the Burj al-Arab.
Martin Kaymer on the
eighteenth green at the end
of the final round of the
2008 Abu Dhabi Golf
Championship at
Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
Golf
Immaculate greens, lush fairways, high-tech practice ranges and
facility-driven clubhouses make the UAE a world-class destination
for golfers, both amateur and professional. Many of the innovatively
designed clubhouses are outstanding architectural landmarks in their
own right, frequently basing their design on traditional aspects of
UAE culture. At Abu Dhabi Golf Club, one of the emirate’s most
distinctive golf courses, the clubhouse is in the shape of a falcon
swooping down on a golf ball. Emirates Golf Club, although built from
thoroughly modern materials such as white concrete and gleaming
glass, has managed to create a series of cool, tent-like structures
lying low to the ground, redolent of a vanished era. Meanwhile, the
clubhouse at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club evokes the gently
billowing sails of a stately dhow and that at Jebel Ali Hotel and Golf
Resort the prow of a ship overlooking the Arabian Gulf.
At least ten new golf courses are under construction, many being
designed by world-famous professionals. The legendary Gary Player is
responsible for the signature golf course on Saadiyat Island; The Tiger
Woods Dubai is the first-ever course in which the world-famous
golfer has had a design input and just one of five themed courses in
Dubailand’s Golf City; and Sergio Garcia has joined forces with Greg
Norman and Pete Dye to design the Wild Golf Course, the fourth
elementally themed course in the multi-billion dirham, award-
winning Jumeirah Golf Estates.
It is not surprising that these prestigious golf courses are the
venues for a series of the world’s top events on the global golfing
calendar. Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) runs the PGA Abu
Dhabi Golf Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. The club has
undertaken a two-phase Dh20 million (US$5.45 million) upgrade,
initially to improve the spectator and player experience for all involved
in the competition, and in the long-term to deliver a world-class
sporting and leisure facility to club members and tourists. The
third Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in 2008 was won by German
prodigy, Martin Kaymer, with Lee Stenson and Henrik Stenson as
runner-ups. Abu Dhabi kick-starts what has become known as the
‘Desert Swing’, taking the players on to Doha and to Dubai for the
Dubai Desert Classic.
Martin Kaymer featured again in the nineteenth Dubai Desert
Classic, which was held at the Emirates Golf Club's superb Majlis
 SPORTS & LEISURE 315

Course at the beginning of February 2008. However, this time Tiger

Woods underlined his status as the world’s greatest player with a
mesmerising final round performance to take the title, winning by
a shot from Kaymer.
An addition to the calendar in 2009, the Dubai World Championship,
will be staged in November as a climax to the new US$10 million
‘Race to Dubai’, a season-long competition that will replace the PGA
European Tour Order of Merit. The deal will pump a staggering U$100
million (Dh367.36 million) into the Tour over the next five years. To be Sheikha Latifa riding 'Kalaska
held annually at Jumeirah Golf Estates, the tournament will be De Semilly' in the Beijing
open to the top 60 players on The Race to Dubai. Jumeirah Golf Olympics showjumping
competition in Hong Kong.
Estates will also become home to The European Tour's international
headquarters from 2009.
These high-profile events and, of course, the spread of superb
courses, have played an important role in the dramatic rise in
popularity of the sport since the UAE Golf Association was formed in
1995, inspiring and motivating excellence. The UGA, however, is
keen to promote the game among youngsters and improve the
performance of national teams. Some national teams have
already done well on the regional circuit, winning the Arab Junior
Championships, but to be consistently competitive they need to
participate in more national and international tournaments.

Equestrian Sports
Emirates Racing Authority (ERA) is the internationally recognised
body overseeing horse racing in the UAE. Races of thoroughbreds
and the legendary purebred Arabians take place in many of the
region's top equestrian clubs and courses, but the highlight of the
season is the Dubai International Racing Carnival (DIRC), nine weeks
of top-class racing.
One of the world’s leading thoroughbred breeding and racing
operations, Godolphin, has been a major participant in the DIRC
and a huge contributor to the UAE’s racing circuit. Established by
the Maktoum family, Godolphin runs a state-of-the-art operation in
Dubai’s Al Quoz area. Younger horses are broken in at the specially
designed Desert Stables with only the best-bred picked for
international competition.
Recognised as the world's richest race, the US$6 million Dubai World
Cup has become the favourite meeting place for the global racing

@ www.uaeinteract.com/sports
 Top: Sheikh Mohammed with his horse
‘New Approach’and jockey Kevin Manning
after winning the Epsom Derby.
Right: Robby Albarado rides US-born horse
‘Curlin’to victory in the Dubai World Cup.
 SPORTS & LEISURE 317

fraternity. Hot favourite and US horse of the Year 2007, Curlin, ridden
by Robby Albarado, galloped away with the 2008 Dubai World Cup.
The 2008/09 season opened at Nad Al Sheba on 6 November and
the 2009 Dubai World Cup will also be held on 28 March at Nad Al
Sheba, the culmination of 46 race meetings, hosted by three UAE
racing clubs, the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Dubai Racing Club and
Jebel Ali Racecourse.
Work has also begun on the spectacular new Meydan racecourse
near Nad Al Sheba which is scheduled to stage the 2010 World Cup.
Purebred Arabian racing is very popular at home in the UAE where
purebred Arabian horses are prized animals with a long tradition in
the desert. But concerted efforts are being made to foster and
support the sport elsewhere, with the UAE promoting Arabian racing
in many famous racing centres around the world during the summer
months. The main aim is to dispel the myth that Arabian horses do not
make good race horses.
Central to this promotion is the UAE Equestrian and Racing
Federation, which sponsors a series of races for purebred Arabian
horses around the globe. The federation, with the support of President
HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince
General HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has been
organising these races as part of the UAE President Prize series for 14 National Bank of Dubai play
years and they have been steadily gaining in popularity. They are now Qatar Airways during the third
a part of the flat-racing calendar and large crowds regularly turn out to Cartier Dubai Polo Challenge
at Desert Palm Polo Ground
witness the purebred Arabians in action.
on 28 March 2008 in Dubai.
Purebred Arabians also excel in endurance racing, a gruelling
sport that is hugely popular in the UAE and one in which Emiratis
shine at home and abroad. HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al
Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of
Dubai, led the UAE team to win the 2008 European Endurance
Championships in the UK, shortly after triumphing in the Syrian
Endurance Championships. The 160 kilometre race qualified the
UAE team for the World Endurance Championships in November in
Malaysia, in which the UAE team took gold. Sheikh Mohammed has
been leading the UAE to the world endurance meet since the 1996
championships in the United States.
UAE female riders Sheikha Latifa, Sheikha Maryam, Sheikha Futaim
and Sheikha Sheikha, also triumphed in the UK during the 2008

@ www.uaeinteract.com/sports
318 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
HH Sheikh Mohammed bin
Rashid Al Maktoum takes
part in an endurance race in
Wadi Rum, Jordan on 14
November 2008.
season and were crowned as team champions in the Women’s
European Open Endurance Championships, while Sheikha Latifa won
the individual event.
At home, Yousuf Ahmad Al Beloushi finished ahead of Spain's Maria
Alvarez Ponton in the Sheikh Maktoum bin Hamdan bin Rashid Al
Maktoum Challenge 120 kilometre endurance ride at the Emirates
International Endurance Village in Dubai, again winning the first
and last races in the Dubai International Endurance 2007/08
season. Earlier in the year, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammad bin
Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, led a UAE sweep of the
top three places in the HH The President of the United Arab
Emirates Cup endurance ride.
Showjumping is another equestrian sport that features strongly on
the national circuit. But Emirati riders have also triumphed abroad
in this demanding field: Sheikha Latifa bint Ahmed Al Maktoum
participated in the 2008 Olympic Games, whilst Sheikh Shakhbut bin
Nahyan Al Nahyan won the Valkensward Show jumping Championship
in Holland in August 2008.
Watersports
As mentioned in the introduction to this section, the UAE is an ideal
venue for all types of competitive watersports, from traditional dhow
racing to modern yacht and dinghy sailing, powerboat racing and
jet-skiing.
The season for the evocative traditional dhow sailing races begins
on 1 October with the first heat for the 22-foot class at Dubai
International Marine Club (DIMC). Approximately 40 dhows go
through eight heats in all before the overall winner is decided on
points gained. Lucrative prizes are awarded for the victors in this
and other competitions for the larger boats.
In May, marking the end of the season, the spectacular Sir Bu
Nua’ir dhow race is living proof that the country has a firm hold on
tradition. Every year since the event was started in 1991, dozens of
dhows have raced along the UAE coast in a re-enactment of the sprint
home by pearlers of old from the pearl banks near the island of Sir Bu
Nua’ir. Local knowledge of wind and tides is a huge advantage and
a younger generation of sailors, many of whom have a seafaring
background, are keeping the tradition alive whilst adding their own
competitive touches.
 For nationals and expatriates, sailing plays a huge part in their Traditional dhow races evoke
weekend leisure activities as excellent facilities in all the emirates, the sprint home by pearlers
from the pearl banks off the
including at Abu Dhabi International Marine Club (ADIMC), the Dubai coast of the UAE.
Offshore Sailing Club (DOSC), Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC),
Fujairah International Marine Club (FIMC), and in Sharjah, Ajman and
UAQ, coupled with a good all-year-round climate, enable enthusiasts to
take part in numerous activities and competitions. Established in 1988,
DIMC was the first Arab organisation to be granted full membership of
the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM). The highly successful
Maktoum Sailing Trophy, comprising a regatta of ten inshore races and
one offshore passage race for individual yachts, held at DIMC in
February is an indication of the progress made by the sport in the UAE.
Emirates Sailing School trains UAE nationals to international
standards to represent the UAE in competitions abroad. Training
covers all watersports but mainly focuses on attaining skills in sailing
Optimists, Lasers and Toppers. In addition, the UAE National Sailing
Championships are a central part of the sailing calendar. While some
of the youngsters gain their first serious competitive experience
outside of their local club activities in these regattas, the junior line-
up also includes members of the UAE national team.
Motivation and inspiration for these young enthusiasts and their
older counterparts was provided by the appearance of Alinghi, the

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320 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

winner of the thirty-second America’s Cup, in UAE waters in the winter

of 2006/07. Drawn by ideal meteorological and sea-conditions, Alinghi
perfected the skills that allowed it to triumph in a closely fought final
against Emirates Team New Zealand.
The Class One World Powerboat Championships first appeared in
the Gulf in 1989, when the region's initial race took place off Mina
Seyahi in Dubai. The UAE has since staged the championships eight
times. Indeed, the UAE’s powerboat Victory team is classed as the
most successful in the history of the World Championships with
driving legend Ali Nasser himself picking up an unprecedented 14
world titles in 13 years.
The Victory team raced hard throughout the international 2008
season in pursuit of their eighth world title in 16 years. The two-boat
squad powered by team-mates Nadir bin Hendi and Mohammed Al
Merri in Victory 1 with Jean-Marc Sanchez and Abdullah Al Mehairbi
in Victory 7 performed well in initial heats before clinching the title
in the penultimate round of the championship at Mina Seyahi on 6
December. Victory 1 scored 125 points overall, with Victory 7 in
second place at 105 points and Qatar 95 in third at 81 points.
The President's Cup Formula 2000 championship powerboat
race series, which extends over two weekends in March, with the
first leg taking place at the Abu Dhabi Breakwater, is an important
event for aspiring F1 drivers. The second and final leg is held in
Sharjah. Sharjah is also home to the eighth and final round of the
UIM F1 World Powerboat Championships in December.
Fujairah also looks set to become an important fixture in the
Continental F2000 Championship diary, having hosted a Grand Prix
in February 2008 where 18 boats from 12 nations vied for valuable
points as well as a share of the prize money. The Fujairah International
Marine Club (FIMC) was also chosen to be the official headquarters
of the F2000 Championships as well as the executive organising
committee for all championship meets.
E X H I BITIONS & E VENTS

Investment in the exhibition, events

and conferences industry is yet
another strand in the UAE’s strategy to
position itself as a global centre of
tourism and trade.
The World Future Energy Summit is one of the
world’s leading conferences and exhibitions
on global energy policies and the
development of alternative and renewable
investment and infrastructure.
 323

EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS

INVESTMENT IN THE EXHIBITIONS, EVENTS AND CONFERENCES industry is yet The UAE is at the
another strand in the UAE’s strategy to position itself as a global crossroads of Europe,
centre of tourism and trade. In addition to providing a platform for the Asia and Africa and is
direct promotion of business activities, MICE (meetings, incentive, uniquely positioned
conference and exhibition) events encourage business relationships, for access to the
boost economic diversity, encourage development and contribute
billions of people
significantly to the image of the country worldwide.
who live and work
With its huge purpose-built exhibition halls and luxury hotels
within a few hours
boasting state-of-the-art conference facilities, the UAE is at the
crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa and is uniquely positioned for flight of the country.
access to the billions of people who live and work within just a few
hours flight of the country.
Recent estimates conclude that the UAE has about half of the total
covered exhibition space currently available in the Gulf Cooperation
Council (GCC), but this will increase to 65 per cent by 2009. The
addition of a sophisticated infrastructure, a strong economy, a secure
hospitable environment and diverse leisure opportunities helps
to explain why the country attracts major global events.

EXHIBITION CENTRES
ADIEC
Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Company (ADNEC) built, owns and
manages the state-of-the-art Abu Dhabi International Exhibition
Centre (ADIEC), the Arabian Gulf's largest exhibition venue, which is
widely regarded as one of the most modern facilities of its type in the
world. The spectacular venue comprises 55,000 square metres of fully
interconnected exhibition floor space spread over 12 halls, an 18,000
square metre visitor concourse, and a multi-purpose hall suitable for
events ranging from huge conventions to pop concerts.

@ www.uaeinteract.com/exhibitions
 Global leaders such as UK Some of the Gulf’s largest and most significant international exhibitions,
Prime Minister Gordon Brown such as Idex, a major defence exhibition and conference, Adipec,
frequently participate in
major exhibitions and
Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference, Gulf
conferences in the UAE. Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) and
ISNR Abu Dhabi, an international trade show focused on addressing
homeland security challenges facing governments and businesses in
the region, are held here.
Capital Centre, a Surrounding ADIEC is the Dh8 billion (US$2.18 billion) Capital Centre
strategic new development, a fully integrated community project that is considered
residential and to be a major strategic element of Abu Dhabi’s 2030 vision. Capital
commercial Centre will house a new business and residential micro-city of 23
development is being towers, including seven hotels. On completion in early 2011, Capital
Centre will also feature Capital Gate, a 35-storey signature tower, a
constructed around
2.3 kilometre waterfront Marina Zone; the ‘Galleria', a shopping mall
ADIEC, Abu Dhabi’s
with restaurants, retail outlets, and cinemas; and its own monorail.
state-of-the-art
In June 2008, Adnec commenced dredging for the marina, the first
exhibition centre. phase of which will feature a 250-metre quay wall suitable for stern
mooring more than 20 yachts. This will be ready by March 2009,
in time for the highly anticipated Abu Dhabi Yacht Show. ADTA and
Adnec have been marketing the destination worldwide to great effect.
Adnec also recently acquired ExCeL London, the UK capital’s largest
exhibition venue, as part of its strategy of developing a global network
of venues to serve the international exhibitions industry. The benefits
 EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS 325

to Abu Dhabi include increased international awareness of the city and

the emirate, international training opportunities for UAE nationals and
an opportunity to support international events. For further information
on ADNEC’s events and developments visit www.adnec.ae.
Abu Dhabi also has excellent meeting and conference facilities at its
many five-star hotels. But the most impressive are to be found at the
capital’s new seven-star Emirates Palace Hotel. This has a 1200-
capacity auditorium, a main ballroom that can accommodate up to
2800 people, 48 meeting rooms, six large function terraces, a media
centre and business centre, all built within the heart of a beachfront
hotel that stands on 100 hectares of landscaped gardens. The hotel
deserves its designation as the ‘most luxurious and technologically
advanced meeting facility in the region’.

DWTC
At the northern end of Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai World Trade Centre
(DWTC) is the towering figurehead of a large exhibition complex that Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed
includes the adjacent Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Al Nahyan at opening of
Centre (DICEC). Built in the 1980s, DWTC was the city’s first skyscraper. Environment Exhibition.
Today, dwarfed though it is by new buildings, it remains at the
epicentre of Dubai’s international trade and business industry, having
hosted key conferences for over 20 years. With the number of
exhibitions and meetings at the venue rising significantly, DWTC
recorded 551,056 visitors to DICEC between January and June
2008, compared to 393,665 in the first six months of 2007, an
increase of 40 per cent. DWTC executives were confident that they
were on track to beat the records set in 2007, officially the group's
'busiest year ever.' The extensive new
Construction is well under way on the first phase of the Dubai Dubai Exhibition City,
Trade Centre District project, the high-end commercial development which is under
that will create a new central business quarter at the heart of Dubai. construction near Jebel
An international conventions facility also managed by DWTC, the
Ali, is destined to be
Airport Expo Centre is a convenient five-minute drive from Dubai
an integrated
International Airport. However, extensive new exhibition facilities are
being built at Jebel Ali adjacent to the new Al Maktoum International commercial destination
Airport. Dubai Exhibition City is destined to be an integrated anchored by one of
commercial destination anchored by one of the world's largest the world’s largest
exhibition centres, Dubai Exhibition Centre. exhibition centres.
DWTC-hosted events include some of the most strategically
important industry sectors such as aviation, banking and finance, and

@ www.uaeinteract.com/exhibitions
326 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

biotech. Among the significant exhibitions that debuted this season

Sharjah Book Fair at Expo
Centre Sharjah.
were Aircraft Interiors Middle East, an event that targets the high-
growth aviation sector in the region. Other major successes were
the inaugural event for banking and finance, MEFX, organised in
partnership with Dubai International Financial Centre, and the China
Sourcing Fair, the premier commercial event for traders and volume
buyers from the MENA region and suppliers and manufacturers from
China. Many of Dubai’s extensive range of luxury five-star hotels
also boast impressive conference and meeting facilities that host
events throughout the year, including the exotic new Atlantis Hotel
on Palm Jumeirah.

Expo Centre Sharjah

Sharjah pioneered the region’s exhibition industry in 1977 when
it opened an exhibition complex in the emirate. Twenty-five years
later, with an investment of Dh183.5 million (US$50 million), the Expo
Centre Sharjah was inaugurated as the centrepiece of a larger ‘Expo
City’. Managed by Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI),
the Expo centre is being extended and a 300-room hotel is being built
that will give exhibitors and foreign delegates easy access to the venue.
The Expo Centre hosts regular specialised trade fairs, including
Texpo, an annual international trade exhibition for garment machinery,
textiles and accessories; the National Careers Exhibition, aimed at
UAE nationals in the banking and finance sectors; the biannual
Mideast Watch and Jewellery Spring and Autumn Shows; Arab Asia
Trade Fair, showcasing everything from DIY products to flora and
fauna and the Sharjah World Book Fair.
Expo Centre Sharjah is bordered by Al Khalid Lagoon, making it
an attractive option for marine events such as the highly successful
Gulf Maritime Exhibition.

RAK Convention Centre

Rakeen unveiled
In an effort to increase foreign investment into the emirate, as well
innovative designs for
as boost tourism and trade, Ra’s al-Khaimah investment company
the new RAK Rakeen unveiled a Dh1.46 billion (US$400 million) RAK Convention
Convention & & Exhibition Centre on the first day of the Arabian Travel Market
Exhibition Centre at 2008. The innovative building will have a superior high-tech finish,
the Arabian Travel using technologically advanced ceramics that have been developed
Market in 2008. by RAK Ceramics. The structure of the new exhibition centre is
 EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS 327

designed to merge with its surroundings, maintaining the majestic

beauty of the sand dunes.
Ra’s al-Khaimah already has a 37,400 square metre exhibition
complex close to the active business centre of the city. Its calendar
includes the Families Exhibition, Drinks and Food Stuffs Fair, Career
and Training Fair, and Ramadan Festival.

Fujairah Exhibition Centre

The Fujairah Exhibition Centre (FEC) on the east coast covers 1080
square metres of indoor floor space, an outdoor display area, exhibition
halls, management offices and service utilities. It is centrally located
between both the international airport and Fujairah Trade Centre on
one side and the seaport and free zone on the other. A number of
internationally important exhibitions have been held at the centre
since its establishment. These include Buildex, the Motor Show, the
Fujairah International Agricultural Exhibition, and Fujairah International
Education and Training Exhibition. FEC also hosts seasonal fairs for
the general public.

EXHIBITIONS
The following is a small representative selection of the many
These two camels were
exhibitions that take place every year in the UAE. purchased by Sheikh Hamdan
bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al
ABU DHABI 2008 Maktoum for Dh6 million
(US$1.5 million) during the
The International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (Adihex), also first day of Adihex.
known as Abu Dhabi 2008, is a four-day annual platform for the
hunting and equine industries with a distinctive emphasis on heritage
and traditional sports. The fifth edition of the exhibition took place at
ADIEC from 8 to 11 October, with 526 companies from 37 countries
taking part, a 22 per cent increase on 2007, underlining the local,
regional and international profile that the event has achieved.
Sponsored by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy
Prime Minister and President of the Emirates Falconers' Club
(EFC), Abu Dhabi 2008 was organised by the EFC in cooperation with
the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH), Sorouh Real
Estate and Abu Dhabi Sports Council.

@ www.uaeinteract.com/exhibitions
328 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
HH Sheikh Mohammed bin
Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown
Prince of Abu Dhabi,
attending Adipec.
Falconry is a major draw at Adihex. This year, hybrid falcon auctions
were added to the other main attractions in the exhibition, camel
and horse auctions, and a saluki dog show, encouraging animal owners
to breed higher quality animals.
Adihex supports the use of farm-bred birds to protect endangered
wild falcons whose capture is illegal under Cites. In order to maintain a
balance between heritage and environmental protection, hybrid
falcons have been introduced for hunting purposes in the UAE, and
many are on offer, and are bought, during Adihex, just in time for the
hunting season.
Other events that lend this show a unique atmosphere include
competitions for best falconry equipment; Nabati poetry on falcons
and hunting themes; best research on Arab hunting and equestrian
traditions; ‘Made in UAE’ competitions for traditional crafts; prizes
for the best Arabic coffee; as well as painting and photography
competitions focusing on UAE/Gulf heritage.
ADIPEC
More than 37,000 oil experts and executives representing 89
countries gathered in Abu Dhabi from 1 to 7 November 2008 for
the annual international petroleum show, one of the largest events
of its kind in the world. This is hardly surprising considering the
size of the emirate’s hydrocarbon industry. The four-day Abu Dhabi
International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (Adipec 2008)
covered nearly 85,000 square metres at ADIEC and attracted 1500
exhibitors from nearly 55 countries.
Adipec coincided with the Energy Investment Summit and Energy
2030 event, a high-level conference supported by Adnoc and the
Petroleum Institute. The 2008 edition explored Abu Dhabi's 'Vision
2030' and its commitment to leading the global debate for energy
resources of the future, in tandem with crucial issues affecting the
environment, geo-science integration, oil and gas development cycles,
drilling improvements and advances in petroleum technology.
IDEX
Since its inception in 1993, the International Defence Exhibition
and Conference (Idex) has grown steadily to emerge as one of the
largest and most important events for the global defence industry.
Idex 2009, which runs from 22 to 26 February 2009 at ADIEC, is
expected to be the largest since its launch in 1993. ADIEC’s 12
 EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS 329

halls covering 55,000 square metres will house military hardware

produced by 900 top companies from 50 countries. The exhibition,
co-organised by the Armed Forces, attracts high profile defence
and security personnel from around the globe, the majority of whom
are government representatives.
Equipment on sale includes high-precision weaponry systems,
guided missiles for air defence, electronic warfare systems (C4I)
and ballistic missile systems. Other items on display include naval
vessels and submarines, undersea defence technology, unmanned
aerial vehicles (UAV) and maritime UAVs.
Idex will feature live demonstrations on land, air and sea and
Adnec’s new marina facilities will facilitate participation of a broader
range of naval craft and amphibious demonstrations.
Locally produced military hardware will also feature, including the
Gulf's largest warship, the Baynunah class corvette, which is being
built for the UAE Navy by Abu Dhabi Ship Building. In fact, at least
30 sections of the exhibition are dedicated to UAE defence services Idex is one of the most
important exhibitions for the
or products. global defence industry.
In 2007, 862 companies took part in the show, with 143 delegations
from more than 50 countries. Defence systems sales amounted
to more than Dh2 billion (US$545 million) with the UAE's Armed
Forces buying the lion's share, worth nearly Dh1.4 billion.
Idex 2009 will also incorporate the Gulf Defence Conference,
which is regarded in international academic and military circles as a
top forum on defence strategies and technologies.

Abu Dhabi Motor Show

Driven by strong growth in the regional and global automotive
industry, Abu Dhabi International Motor Show (ADIMS), a biennial
event, which took place at ADIEC from 17 to 21 December 2008, has
been re-branded and re-launched. Showcased were luxury cars, high
performance supercars, custom cars, executive saloons, concept and
hybrid cars, sports cars, family cars and SUVs, motorcycles and quad
bikes, as well as commercial vehicles such as trucks and pickups, vans
and mini buses, luxury coaches, limousines, trailers and campers.
Launched over 20 years ago, ADIMS is one of the oldest automobile
exhibitions in the Middle East. With a completely new management, a
An Italian Spada TS
new state-of-the art venue and a new brand identity, the exhibition Codatronca supercar on
was the largest and most comprehensive motor show in the Middle display in Abu Dhabi.

@ www.uaeinteract.com/exhibitions
330 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
HH Sheikh Mohammed bin
Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi
Crown Prince, tours the
Masdar Energy Initiative
Exhibition with US President
George W. Bush, Secretary
of State Condoleezza Rice
and US Ambassador
Michele Sison.
East in 2008. Emirates Auctions conducted an auction of cars and
licence plates at ADIMS, part of the proceeds of which went to charity.
Abu Dhabi Yacht Show
Abu Dhabi is venturing into the upper echelons of global yachting with
the debut Abu Dhabi Yacht Show (ADYS) scheduled for 12 to 14 March
2009. Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) moved to establish the
emirate’s superyacht credentials ahead of the event by running a
destination pavilion and acting as headline sponsor for the Monaco
Yacht Show, using the opportunity to present Abu Dhabi's superyacht
hub proposition to the most influential audience in the sector.
A yachting event of global standing is an excellent 'fit' for Abu Dhabi,
which has extensive natural marine assets and a rich maritime
history: the people of Abu Dhabi have a long relationship with the
sea as it was a key provider of sustenance in the past and is now a
focal point for sport and relaxation.
ADYS will be held at ADIEC’s new marina, which has a 250 metre
quay wall for stern mooring and will be capable of berthing at least
20 superyachts of 25 metres or more in length.
World Future Energy Summit
After a hugely successful inaugural event in January 2008, the World
Future Energy Summit (WFES) is set to become one of the world's
leading conferences and exhibitions on global energy policies and
the development of alternative and renewable investment and
infrastructure. WFES attracted heads of state, numerous energy and
environment ministers, and CEOs of companies from 77 countries,
220 exhibiting companies and over 11,000 visitors over three days.
Accolades accorded the 2008 edition include ‘Best Launch Event' from
the prestigious Association of Event Organisers Excellence awards and
the ‘Best Congress in the Middle East’ award from the Middle East
Event Industry Awards.
The programme for WFES 2009 encompasses a wide range of
themes, including energy policy, investment and funding, green
buildings, clean transport, solar, wind, biofuels, ocean power,
geothermal, nuclear, waste to energy, fuel cells, carbon management,
and environmental strategy. With over 15,000 attendees expected in
2009, the summit will be the largest meeting of influential figures
within the renewable energy industry. The exhibition has been
 EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS 331

extended to cover over 20,000 square metres and will include a series
of new feature areas to encourage networking and interaction within
this global community. There will also be a range of social events,
including the Zayed Future Energy Prize ceremony and dinner.

Cityscape Abu Dhabi

Cityscape Abu Dhabi, held from 13 to 16 May 2008 at ADIEC, was
an international property investment and development event,
focusing on all aspects of the property development cycle in this
booming market. The exhibition attracted regional and international
investors, property developers, leading architects and designers to
an annual forum that celebrates the very best in real estate,
architecture, urban planning and design.
Over 50,000 participants attended Cityscape Abu Dhabi 2008 and
billions of dirhams worth of property deals were done. An additional
fourth day was added to the show to meet the extremely high level of
demand from visitors.
The Cityscape brand is a global one and stretches to seven
destinations in three continents, but because of the expanded facilities
provided by ADIEC, Cityscape Abu Dhabi 2009 will be the largest
event in the range.

Mecom
The second edition of the Middle East Communications Exhibition
and Conference, held at ADIEC from 26 to 28 May 2008, was one
of the largest dedicated business-to-business networking platforms
for the communications industry in the Middle East. With over 100
exhibitors offering the latest and most innovative products and
technology in the communications industry, Mecom provided a
unique opportunity for communication professionals to interact and
connect with industry counterparts and competitors. The three-day
event featured a concurrent conference programme offering over 60
topics and seven tracks that address the latest trends and best
practices for the communications sector. Over 50 telecom industry
leaders attending the conference shared, discussed, explored, and
found solutions for the issues facing the telecommunication industry
today. Mecom is officially supported by the UAE Telecommunications
Regulatory Authority and Dubai Internet City.

@ www.uaeinteract.com/exhibitions
332 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9
ADNEC hosted three
new exhibitions in
December 2009:
Fashion Expo Arabia,
Shoe and Leather Fair
Middle East and
Optical Exhibition, the
only trade exhibition
for the optical industry
in Abu Dhabi
Najah Education Conference
Najah 2008 (19–21 October at ADIEC) was the most comprehensive
education, training and careers event ever to be held in the UAE.
Specifically created to service the needs of all three distinct sectors
in one focused environment, Najah, an annual event, provides tailored
solutions to each visitor's needs, based on extensive research with
key visitor focus groups. However, Najah is much more than an
exhibition. The event featured numerous activities for visitors, including
job profiling, careers advice, over 100 'topic specific' seminars and the
region’s largest high-level strategic educational conference. It also
showcased many leading UAE companies seeking to recruit.
Power Generation & Water Middle East 2008
This annual exhibition (26–28 Oct 2008 at ADIEC) provides an ideal
platform for companies involved in the power generation, energy
and water sectors to exhibit their products, services and solutions, at
the same time enabling them to conduct and evaluate business
opportunities with targeted key decision-makers in a market that is
expanding exponentially. The exhibition serves as a comprehensive
showcase for the regional and international power generation,
energy and water industries.
Abu Dhabi Medical Congress 2008
The Abu Dhabi Medical Congress, held in 2008 from 26 to 28 October
at ADIEC, brings together healthcare manufacturers, wholesalers,
dealers and distributors, providing key contacts and information
on the major topics affecting the healthcare industry today.
Roadex/Railex
Held in 2008 from 23 to 25 November at ADIEC, Roadex/Railex
focuses on all aspects of the transport industry, including infrastructure,
traffic management, rescue services, safety and parking, global
traffic engineering, highway maintenance, road railway and metro
technology, interiors, bridge, road and tunnel construction, transport
IT, street furniture, barrier systems, signage and SatNav/GIS.
Environment 2009
Environment 2009, which will take place from 19 to 21 January 2009
at ADIEC, will be the fifth highly successful edition since the event was
first held in 2001. Organised in conjunction with the Environment Environment 2009 will
Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), Environment 2009 will focus on energy, focus on energy, water,
water, waste, air and land management issues. This is a particularly waste, air and land
relevant topic at present as MENA countries are expected to invest management issues,
Dh16.5 billion to Dh22 billion (US$4.5–US$6 billion) annually on
all topics that are vitally
freshwater projects over the next ten years.
important to the
Participants will include governmental organisations dealing with
development of
environmental matters from the MENA countries (Middle East and
North Africa) and the rest of the world. the region.

Gitex
Twenty-eight years old in 2008, Gulf Information Technology Exhibition
(Gitex) or Gitex Technology Week, as it is now called, is one of the
three biggest exhibitions of its kind in the world. Gitex Technology
Week 2008, running from 19 to 23 October at DICEC, featured three
dedicated industry events: Gitex Business Solutions, Gulfcomms, and
Consumer Electronics. Also held in conjunction with Gitex Technology
Week were Global Conference, Gitex Majlis, and Gadget Glam 2008.
In addition, the week-long Gitex Shopper at Airport Expo, which
was open to the public, showcased the latest in games, audio and
digital technology.

@ www.uaeinteract.com/exhibitions
334 U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S Y E A R B O O K 2 0 0 9

Gitex continues to attract companies from leading technology hubs

around the world, who recognise the unique opportunities for
expansion and further growth that the Middle East markets offer. The
2008 edition welcomed 3300 exhibitors from 82 countries spread
out over 64,000 square metres, including 30 country pavilions, with
attendance figures around 130,000.
The UAE Government had a strong presence at Gitex 2008, with six
UAE ministries showcasing their electronic platforms, applications and
e-services, enhancing public awareness of government efforts to
provide a highly effective and enabling electronic work environment.
Gitex Technology Week also hosted some of the year’s most high-
profile launches, with consumer electronics companies in particular
seeking to demonstrate their commitment to the Middle East market
by making the event a key platform for new technology. Innovation
was also on display in the world of electronic gaming, with the
inaugural Gitex Digital Game World. A series of developer workshops
were also held, with specific emphasis on supporting the development
of original Arabic games and software.

Dubai International Boat Show

Held at the Dubai International Marine Club at Mina Seyahi, Dubai
International Boat Show (DIBS) welcomed over 800 exhibitors from
nearly 50 countries in 2008, including up to 400 boats, the highest
number since the show was launched in 1992. Companies from every
part of the industry, from boat-builders through to marine equipment,
suppliers and service providers, showcased their latest products and
services, providing a unique opportunity to see some of the world's
most exclusive and luxurious super yachts lined up next to speedy
Powerboats line up at sport cruisers, powerful motorboats and other desirable craft.
Dubai International
Boat Show. Dubai Motor Show
The biennial Middle East International Motor Show at DICEC targets the
buoyant automobile market. Attended by hordes of automobile
enthusiasts and prospective buyers, international vehicle manufactures
display their wares, including fleets of off-road vehicles, concept
cars, high-performance sports cars, custom-built automobiles and
motorcycles. Manufacturers participating include BMW, Mercedes-
Benz, Volkswagen, Lamborghini, Jaguar, Rolls-Royce, Suzuki and Land
Rover, to name but a few.
 EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS 335

Dubai Airshow
Billed as the world's third largest aerospace exhibition, the biennial
Dubai Airshow, which celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2007, will be
staged in 2009 at the Dubai World Central aviation city in Jebel Ali.
The new Dubai Airshow site will cover 425,000 square metres, double
the size of its former venue at Airport Expo Dubai, and will be housed
in a semi-permanent structure for its first outing before moving to
a permanent facility for 2011.
Dubai Airshow 2007 hosted 850 exhibitors and 11 national pavilions
representing 50 countries: 45,420 visitors attended, 10,000 more
than in 2005, and over 140 aircraft were displayed. In addition, the
show also saw over Dh550 billion (US$150 billion) worth of orders
placed during its five days and now holds the record for the largest
amount of deals ever concluded at one event.

Arabian Travel Market

The Arabian Travel Market (ATM) is universally recognised as the Seven-time F1 World
Champion Michael
leading travel industry event for the Middle East and pan-Arab region, Schumacher inspects the
another rapidly expanding economic sector. The fifteenth edition of model of a tower that will
ATM ran from 6 to 9 May 2008 at DICEC and was open to the public on carry his name. The tower
will be built on Reem Island
the last day. The four-day event welcomed 14,046 visitors representing
in Abu Dhabi.
114 countries, including 119 hosted buyers from the premium leisure
industry, golf and MICE sectors.
Uniting key market players from six continents, this event
comprises four days of intensive business meetings, a diverse seminar
and education programme, press conferences and social networking
opportunities. Large-scale UAE tourism projects were on display, whilst
airlines, tourism organisations, hotels, tour operators and individual
countries showcased their holiday attractions to boost visitor numbers.
Four days of seminars, press conferences, meetings and networking
opportunities during ATM 2008 kept globetrotters up-to-date with
the latest destinations and industry trends.

Cityscape Dubai
Cityscape Dubai is another major business-to-business real estate
investment and development event in the Cityscape global brand.
Held from 8 to 11 October 2008, the seventh Cityscape Dubai
attracted over 60,000 real estate professionals from more than 120

@ www.uaeinteract.com/exhibitions
Visitors examine the model of
a 'new city' to be built by
Dubai government firm
Meraas Development at the
opening of Cityscape 2008.
countries across the globe, including a record number of regional and
international investors, property developers, governmental and
development authorities, leading architects, designers, consultants
and senior professionals involved in the property industry, providing an
annual forum that celebrates the very best in real estate, architecture,
urban planning and design from around the world.
Although the credit crunch was affecting markets across Europe
and the US, the Middle East remained an attractive proposition for
regional and international investors with experts predicting resilience
and continued growth in the sector.
Five conferences, seminars and workshops running alongside the
exhibition enabled delegates to thrash out strategies, investment
and development opportunities as well as debate macroeconomic
conditions, financing options, real estate marketing and branding.

UAE YEARBOOK 2009
THE 2008 YEARBOOK, A VALUABLE INFORMATION source on
developments that occurred in the United Arab
Emirates over the past 12 months, will appeal to all
who have an interest in the country. The UAE has
earned a worldwide reputation for excellence in
several important fields, including industry and
finance, aviation, tourism, culture, exhibitions and
events, real estate, sports, education, health care, and
travel. The facts behind these impressive success
stories are to be found between the covers of this
book.
The Yearbook is designed for use in conjunction
with the internet and the links cited throughout the
book will take the reader to up-to-date information on
a wide range of topics. The book itself is available in
printed format, on DVD-rom and on the internet as
PDF files downloadable from www.uaeinteract.com.
Daily news reports on the UAE, a comprehensive
searchable news database, and further information on
the country are also available on www.uaeinteract.com
The UAE Yearbook is published with the assistance
and support of the National Media Council.
For further information please contact:
National Media Council,
PO Box 3790,
Abu Dhabi,
United Arab Emirates.
Tel: 00971 2 4452 922
Fax: 00971 2 4450 458
Email: admin@extinfo.gov.ae or info@extinfo.gov.ae
ISBN 978-1-905486-33-5
9 781905 486335
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 2009
• HISTORY COVER STORY
THE UAE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A LAND WHERE culture has taken a
• GOVERNMENT prime role in society. Emiratis respect poets, writers
• ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UNITED ARAB EMIRATES and artists as vital contributors to a healthy
community and an aesthetic sensitivity has guided
• development and continues to influence architecture.
•
INFRASTRUCTURE
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
2009 It is hardly surprising, therefore, that when Abu Dhabi,
the capital city of the UAE, considered how it could
best celebrate its growth and contribute towards an
• MEDIA & CULTURE improved standard of living for both its residents and
those who visit the country, it chose culture as its core
• ENVIRONMENT theme, expressing this in a unique way that would also
build a bridge between West and East, a way that
• SPORTS would ensure that Emiratis are exposed to some of the
world's finest creative talents within their own country,
• EXHIBITIONS and a way in which global attention would be drawn
to the UAE's own cultural strengths and interests.
This is the background to the development of the
Cultural District of Saadiyat Island where Abu Dhabi is
now developing the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, the
Louvre Abu Dhabi and a number of other fine centres
of artistic excellence. When we considered the options
for illustrating the cover of the 2008 UAE Yearbook it
seemed to us that no other decision made over the
past 12 months is of greater significance in raising the
global profile of the UAE. Our cover, therefore, depicts
Frank Gehry's innovative concept for the Guggenheim
Abu Dhabi.
Published by Trident Press Ltd.
175 Piccadilly, Mayfair, London WIJ 9TB, UK
Tel: 0044 2074918770
E-mail: admin@tridentpress.com
Website: www.tridentpress.com